World Birding Center receives
$1.5 million grant

AUSTIN -- The World Birding Center project was awarded $1,478,400 in new federal funds recently when the Texas Transportation Commission approved grants funded through the TEA-21 transportation enhancement program.
Texas Parks and Wildlife will use the grant funds to help build the visitors center for the WBC headquarters at Bentsen-Río Grande State Park near Mission, Texas. The WBC is a regional complex of nine sites spread along the Río Grande at Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, Hidalgo, McAllen, Roma, South Padre Island, and Weslaco. The total project cost for all sites is estimated at around $20 million.
The visitor's center is one of three main buildings planned for the WBC headquarters. Included are a visitor information area, refreshment area, restrooms and lobby, plus related landscaping and infrastructure. The other two buildings will contain exhibits and a multi-purpose meeting area with catering facilities, plus staff offices.
TPW will operate the three main WBC sites, including the Mission headquarters, the new Llano Grande State Park near Weslaco, and the Resaca de le Palma State Park in Brownsville. The other sites will be maintained by local communities. Construction has started at several of the WBC sites, with soft openings at most sites currently planned for late 2003. For details on the World Birding Center, see the project Internet site at www.worldbirdingcenter.org.