A future Hill Country state natural area took a major step forward Thursday as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved $6.8 million in grant funding for trail construction and maintenance projects across the state — including $300,000 for Bandera County upcoming Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area.
The grant, part of the Recreational Trails Grants Program administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), will fund the construction of six additional miles of multi-use natural surface trails at the Kronkosky site.
A TPWD press release says the program is supported by federal gas tax revenue generated from fuel purchases for off-highway vehicles and matching funds from the state’s Sporting Goods Sales Tax.
The Kronkosky State Natural Area, located at 7690 Highway 46 West near Pipe Creek, spans 3,814 acres of preserved Hill Country landscape.
The terrain was originally assembled by Albert and Bessie Kronkosky beginning in 1946. The couple hunted, photographed wildlife and entertained guests on the land before ultimately willing it to the state of Texas to protect it from development.
TPWD officially accepted the donation in 2011.
TPWD officials told the Bulletin the site is currently under development and expected to open to the public in 2026. When complete, the natural area will offer opportunities for camping, hiking, backpacking and limited mountain biking, while prioritizing environmental conservation.
Officialssaythepropertyfeatures several rare or endangered species native to the Hill Country, includingthegolden-cheeked warbler, Boerne bean, Texas springsalamander,alligatorlizard and sycamore-leaf snowbell.
TPWD added natural springs, weeps, and other unique geological features also make the site ecologically significant.
“This funding helps us prepare Kronkosky for a thoughtful opening — one that balances outdoor recreation with land stewardship,” TPWD stated in a release following the commission meeting.
The Kronkosky project is one of 24 across Texas receiving funding this year through the National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF).
The NRTF allocated $5.28 million in federal funds, with an additional $1.52 million in state funds. Up to $900,000 of the total will support trail improvements in state parks, according to TPWD.
Other projects funded across the state range from trail expansions in College Station and Austin to dirt bike park improvements in Waco and off-highway vehicle trail upgrades in Ozona. Projects include a variety of both motorized and non-motorized trail types, targeting support for hikers, bikers, equestrians and OHV users.
For more information about the park and future updates, visit tpwd.texas.gov.
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