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<br />B. Statewide Planning Concerns <br /> <br />The Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan (TORP\ of 1990 offers the following information. <br /> <br />". . . walking for pleasure, piCl1icking and pool swimming are the activities that have <br />the highest percent of the population participating in them,as is true for the state as <br />a whole. With the abundance of freshwater lakes in the region, it is not surprising <br />that the percent participating in freshwater activities (boating, swimming and fishing) <br />is higher in this reginon compared to most others. The region (Region 5 includes <br />Bowie, Lamar, Cass, Hopkins, Titus, Red River, Morris, Franklin, and Delta <br />counties) also has the third highest annual per capita rate of hunting participation <br />of the twenty-four planning regions with 1.9 occasions, and the highest per capita <br />rate of horseback riding, 1.1 occasions. Off road vehicle riding is also a popular <br />activity in the region, as compared with other regions in the state.". <br /> <br />The table on the previous page depicts the percentages of persons in the Paris region as <br />defined above who participate in various outdoor activities. <br /> <br />Additionally, the 1990 TORP states: <br /> <br />"Both the cities of Texarkana and Paris own tracts of land with small lakes that, <br />although used by the public, have not been developed to their potential. Lake Crook <br />(Paris) and Bringle Lake (Texarkana), with cleanup and minor development, could <br />become good open space areas." <br /> <br />C. Public Participation <br /> <br />Public participation meetings have shown the following recreation needs most often <br />expressed by the citizens: <br /> <br />1) No public swimming pools exist or have existed in recent history in Paris. There is <br />substantial demand for competitive, recreational, and instructional pool uses within <br />the city. <br /> <br />2) The city owns substantial land and water resources in Lake Crook and Lake <br />Gibbons which are not being fully utilized. <br /> <br />3) There are no suitable lighted tennis courts. The courts existing are in residential <br />neighbomoods where the lighting is sometimes offensive, the court surfaces are in <br />poor shape, and the facilities are not conducive to setting up city leagues or <br />tournaments. <br /> <br />"1990 TORP - Assessment and Policv Plan, Texas Parks and Wildlife Depan;ment, Austin. <br />Texas. Page 5-5. <br /> <br />-23- <br />