Construction of Fort Parker State Park began in August 1935 on the former town site of Springfield under the direction of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The group assigned to build the park was Company 3807(C), an African American CCC camp. From 1935 to 1942, the company constructed park buildings, roads, and facilities, erected a dam across the Navasota River, and reconstructed Old Fort Parker. Old Fort Parker, located nearby, was rebuilt in preparation for a Texas Centennial observance in 1936 and was the first CCC project completed. The dam that created Lake Fort Parker was finished by 1938 and required breaking and hauling rock for cement, digging the dam footings, spillway, and wing walks, and pouring cement for the dam. Creating the park facilities also included clearing and building five miles of roads and constructing an activity center bath house, drinking fountains, and cement picnic tables. Former Texas Governor Pat Neff dedicated Fort Parker State Park in May 1941 and declared it open to the public. Company 3807(C) was transferred out of the area in 1942 after completing several complex tasks over nearly seven years.