Meet Your Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

When people think about Parks & Recreation, they usually picture staff mowing grass, checking swim passes, or setting up for events.

What many don’t see is the group of volunteer citizens helping guide the long-term vision for our parks.

The Wimberley Parks Board is an advisory board appointed by City Council. Members review projects, policies, and long-range plans, then make recommendations to Council, who has final decision-making authority. Parks decisions aren’t simple. They often require balancing ecology, budget, community feedback, tourism, and long-term sustainability. The Board’s role is to step back and consider how decisions made today will shape Wimberley 10, 20, or even 30 years from now.

Our board members are volunteers (also your neighbors) who serve because they care deeply about this community. They bring their experience, perspective, and time to thoughtful discussions that help guide the future of our parks.

A Parks Board meeting including Lori Olson, Amy Crowell, Anthony Deringer, Leah Cuddeback, Lin Weber, Lee Ann Linam, and Rachel Buchanan.

Here’s a little about each of them:

• Rachel Buchanan 

  • Rachel is co-owner of The Leaning Pear, a farm-to-table restaurant that has become a beloved culinary destination in Wimberley. Rachel’s path to Wimberley’s restaurant scene began at Texas A&M University, followed by time spent studying abroad in Italy, where she developed a deep appreciation for seasonal, local food and hospitality rooted in place. As a small business owner and parent in Wimberley, Rachel brings a community-centered perspective to the Parks Board. Her experience balancing entrepreneurship, sustainability, and family life adds valuable insight into how parks serve both residents and visitors in meaningful ways.

• Amy Crowell

  • Amy brings over twenty years of nonprofit and conservation leadership experience to the Parks Board. Throughout her career, she has worked collaboratively to develop resources, partnerships, facilities, and programs that support schools, environmental and social causes, and conservation organizations. Her work consistently centers on building strong, community-driven initiatives rooted in stewardship and sustainability. Amy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College, where she helped found the Dartmouth Organic Farm, worked in the Davidson Pottery Studio, and was a member of the Dartmouth Outing Club. Her broad experience and creative spirit bring both strategic insight and a deep love of place to the Parks Board.

• Leah Cuddeback (Chair)

  • Leah works as the Leadership Program Manager for Hill Country Alliance and has spent nearly a decade in science education and conservation roles. She has served as a camp counselor, environmental interpreter, university lab instructor, and conservation corps project coordinator. After earning her B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Texas State University, she moved to Wimberley and continues a family legacy of environmental advocacy — her grandmother is the namesake of the Patsy Glenn Refuge. Leah brings both education and advocacy experience to the board, helping bridge the gap between conservation science and community engagement

• Anthony Deringer (Secretary)

  • Anthony is an Assistant Professor of Recreation at Texas State University and a researcher in parks and recreation administration. Much of his academic work focuses on conservation and helping people build meaningful connections to nature. As both an educator and a parent raising children in Wimberley, Anthony brings a long-term perspective to the board. He cares deeply about ensuring that public parks remain places where families can play, exercise, and grow. His background in research and conservation helps the board think through decisions with both data and heart.

• Lee Ann Linam

  • Lee Ann holds a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences and a graduate degree in Environmental Studies. She worked for Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for 30 years as a wildlife biologist, focusing on conservation issues and public involvement. During her career, she directed the state’s Endangered Species Program and developed Texas Nature Trackers, a citizen science initiative. A Wimberley resident for three decades, she has also volunteered locally with 4-H and at Blue Hole. Lee Ann brings an extraordinary depth of conservation experience to the board. Her background helps ensure that ecological stewardship remains central to long-term planning decisions.

• Lori Olson (Vice Chair)

  • Lori has served as Executive Director of the Texas Land Trust Council since 2011, where she works to strengthen land and water conservation efforts across the state. In that role, she engages in state and federal advocacy, strategic outreach, research, and training to advance the many benefits of conservation. With more than two decades of experience in land conservation, Lori has worked with organizations in Oregon, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. A native Texan, Lori holds a degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin and graduate degrees in Community and Regional Planning and Public Affairs. She brings a statewide conservation perspective to the Parks Board, helping ensure that long-term land stewardship and thoughtful growth remain central to Wimberley’s future.

• Lin Weber

  • Lin Weber is one of Wimberley’s most active and dedicated community volunteers. A resident of Wimberley, she has devoted countless hours to local conservation and beautification efforts. She is a Texas Master Naturalist and an active member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, Keep Wimberley Beautiful, and the Wimberley Birding Society. She also volunteers regularly at Blue Hole Regional Park, where her hands-on involvement reflects her deep love for the land and the community. Lin brings a strong stewardship ethic to the Parks Board. Her knowledge of native plants, wildlife habitat, and ecological preservation, all combined with her tireless volunteerism, helps ensure that Wimberley’s parks remain both beautiful and thoughtfully cared for. Her service reflects a lifelong commitment to protecting the natural character of the place she calls home.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate at Parks Board Meetings. Meetings are held at 4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at Wimberley City Hall (221 Stillwater, Wimberley, TX 78676), and public comment is included on every agenda. Meetings can also be viewed here.