Rhodes ready for test at Martin Dies Jr. Park
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JUSTIN RHODES was named superintendent of Martin Dies Jr. State Park recently.

Justin Rhodes has been appointed as the new Superintendent of Martin Dies, Jr., State Park. Rhodes is the former Assistant Superintendent of Tyler State Park and Superintendent of Purdis Creek State Park.

He and his wife Angela have two daughters, ages two and seven. Angela is a math teacher in the Spurger school district.

"I grew up in Rusk and being here feels like I'm close to home," he said. "The woods and the pine trees feel like home."

Rhodes said that his first goal was to get the park fully operational. The park was severely damaged by Hurricane Rita in 2005, and only the Hen House Ridge unit has opened. The Walnut Ridge unit on the north side of U.S. Highway 190 remains closed for camping.

"I first want to get the park fully operational," Rhodes said. "We're still waiting on contractors to finish electrical upgrades and septic system work. Park employees have done all that they can do."

He praised employees for the job they have done in the recovery process.

"Park employees put in many, many hours of intensive labor to bring this park back after the storm," he said. "I didn't really know how much damage it sustained until I got here. They have gone far beyond what park rangers usually do."

He said he hopes that all work will be finished by early summer and the staff plans to have a Grand Reopening at that time.

Another goal is to make the park more visible- to create more awareness about what it has to offer. He hopes to reach surrounding communities and also the Golden Triangle and the Houston area.

"I want to make this park a destination- to get the word out about what a great place this is," he said. "I want the local community and the surrounding area to know about us. People should know we are here."

Increasingly, more families come to Martin Dies, Jr., State Park; and Rhodes says he would like to see those numbers grow.

"We can offer a safe, friendly environment for families," he said. "We want this to be a family destination."

The park currently offers a variety of weekend programs that cater to people of all ages and are especially suited to families.

"We have a state-of-theart nature center," Rhodes said. "Catherine Crippens (park naturalist) does a great job there in educating visitors. Spend 20 minutes at the nature center and you come our a more informed person. She has some museum quality exhibits that anyone can enjoy and learn from. Many parks don't have a nature center like this one, and we want to expand it to a larger education center."

Vegetation in the lake has been a problem, but Rhodes said there are plans to improve that situation.

Rhodes also wants to get to know the local community.

"My personal goal is to get to know the local community," he said. "I want to go to meetings such as the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Lions Club or other groups and get to know people. I also want to look at the Corps of Engineers parks and see what they have."

Rhodes said that Martin Dies, Jr., State Park has a lot of weekend activities already. He wants to make sure people know about those and to also add recreational opportunities for visitors.

A partial list of upcoming weekend activities include the following:

Saturday programs - A variety of interpretive programs every weekend.

Feb. 2-Birdhouse Day Celebration at 2 p.m. Learn all about bluebirds and build a bluebird box. Kits are available for a $5 donation.

Feb. 16 - Paddling the Forks. Canoe trip down the Angelina and through Bee Tree Slough. 7:30 a.m - 2 p.m. Reservations required. (Trips are scheduled monthly.)

March 1,8, 22, 29 - Walk on the Wild Side. Guided interpretive hike from 10-11 am.

March 22 - Concert in the park

April 12 - Dutch Oven Cooking. Members of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society will demonstrate cooking food on an open fire. Visitors will get to taste.

For complete information on hiking, camping, and other activities, check out the website at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.