On Sept. 27, people across the country will roll up their sleeves for National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. From planting trees to cleaning trails, it is a day when communities come together to give back. Entry to all national parks is free, making it a celebration of both service and access.

But this day is not just about one type of park or agency. NPLD includes federal, state, county, and city lands: national forests, state parks, and even neighborhood preserves. It is a reminder that the green spaces we treasure are cared for by public employees at every level.

Here in Texas, opportunities stretch from the Pineywoods to the Rio Grande. Volunteers can join cleanups at Angelina National Forest near Lake Sam Rayburn (also featured by the East Texas Banner), pitch in at Galveston Island State Park, hike and restore trails at Purtis Creek State Park’s Beaver Slide Trail, or help at Big Bend Ranch State Park and the Big Thicket National Preserve.

Local projects are happening too. In Harris County, Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center will host a Creek Bash Wetland Walk in partnership with Bayou City Waterkeeper.

And in Lucas, Texas, the community got an early start with a Public Lands Trail Cleanup at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center on Sept. 20. The event shows how even small towns are stepping up to protect public spaces as part of the broader NPLD spirit.

A Texas Voice on Public Lands

Statistics and schedules cannot capture the spirit of these places, but the people who work in them can. In June 2025, KLTV aired a news segment about Tyler State Park, highlighting its trails, amenities, and role in giving East Texans access to nature. The story featured Junior Rodriguez, the park’s new interpreter, who spoke about what the park means to the community.

“People who don’t have the luxury of affording land have access to this land, this beauty. This place — I am in awe every day. I find something new. I find something beautiful.”

- Junior Rodriguez

His words are a reminder that public lands are more than places to visit. They are shared gifts, made possible by the daily care of public employees.

Why It Matters

National Public Lands Day is about more than a single Saturday. It highlights the everyday service of the people who mow fields, patrol trails, teach schoolchildren, and restore ecosystems. They are city crews, county staff, state park rangers, and federal land managers, all part of the public workforce.

For TEXPERS members, the message resonates. Just as pensions require steady, long-term care, so do public lands. Both are investments in the future, a way to ensure that generations to come can enjoy security, beauty, and a sense of place.

The Retirement Connection

The public employees who safeguard our lands also rely on something else that requires careful stewardship: their retirement security. Most city, county, and state employees in Texas participate in defined benefit pension plans, which promise a reliable income after a career of service. These pensions help recruit and keep the dedicated staff who commit their lives to maintaining parks, protecting wildlife, and ensuring that communities have access to nature.

Defined benefit pensions are sometimes called “traditional pensions.” They provide a predictable, lifetime benefit based on years of service and salary, with both employees and employers contributing to a pre-funded system that invests over time. For many public employees who do not participate in Social Security, these pensions represent their main or only steady source of income in retirement.

Like public lands, pensions are a long-term promise. Both require consistent investment and protection to remain healthy for the future. And both reflect a social contract — that those who serve the public should be supported in return.

For members of the public who want a deeper dive, see the National Institute on Retirement Security’s Public Pension Basics guide (PDF).

How to Get Involved

• Volunteer: Explore projects near you at neefusa.org/npld.
• Visit: Take advantage of free admission to all national parks on Sept. 27.
• Share: Post photos and stories of your favorite Texas public lands and the people who keep them thriving. 

 About the Author: Allen Jones is the director of communications and event marketing for TEXPERS. He joined the Association in 2017. Before TEXPERS, he worked in the news media industry, producing content for newspapers, magazines, and online publications and leading newsrooms as an editor and publications manager. [email protected]     

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Editor’s Note: This article was prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to support research, fact-checking, and formatting. Final content decisions, including writing, editing, and publication, were completed by TEXPERS staff.