“Get outside and experience nature to find what inspires you.”

Lyda Hill
Founder
Lyda Hill Philanthropies
.…on experiencing the power of parks, via Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine.

Hill is an entrepreneur whose work to advance the North Texas life science ecosystem includes the development of Pegasus Park, which partners with Lyda Hill Philanthropies, area businesses, and higher ed institutions to boost the region’s biotech innovation. 

But the philanthropist—a recipient of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy—is also interested in another kind of park: the kind with trees. Stars. Lakes. Birds. Creatures. And inspiration around every corner. 

In a recent centennial state parks commemorative issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, Hill offers her take on “The Power of Parks”—and how protecting nature is important at both local and global scales.

“Everywhere I travel, it’s clear that the health of communities and economies is directly tied to the health of the local environment,” Hill says in a message from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation. “It’s been wonderful to visit many city, state, and national parks to see the same concept ring true: Where parks are well-maintained and inviting, the surrounding communities are often also flourishing.”

Hill’s organization is working to help parks flourish in the Dallas area and beyond.

“Our portfolio of nature grantmaking is quite varied: from increasing the number of green spaces within a 10 minute walk in Dallas, to providing innovative financing to land conservation organizations throughout Texas and Colorado, to supporting advocacy to find deferred maintenance at state and national parks, to leveraging satellite technology to catch illegal fishing operations around the world,” she says.

What does Hill want us to do when we step out of our offices and get back to nature?

“Be inspired by the natural world around us and contribute your time and resources to sustaining and improving the world we share,” she urges.

Coming soon to a landscape near you: Palo Pinto Mountains State Park 

Tucker Lake will be the centerpiece of the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park. [Photo: Texas Parks & WIldlife]

You’ll have a chance to get inspired near the end of the year right here in North Texas, when Palo Pinto Mountains State Park opens 80 miles west of Fort Worth. Check out our story about it—and see how you can enter to win Texas Parks & Wildlife’s centennial photo contest.

And for more about what Hill is doing for science and society in Texas, see our May story on The Hill Prizes: New $500K Prizes Funded by Lyda Hill Will Promote Scientific Research and Innovation.

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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