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The Blue Hole Nature Center concept was developed to accommodate the growing success of the Blue Hole Nature Camp. This updated Nature Center would facilitate and enhance the acclaimed nature-based educational program opportunities for Wimberley and Hay County residents of all ages. The plans include:
- 2 classrooms that can be used for indoor/outdoor teaching spaces
- A greenhouse
- An environmental education center
- Older youth nature-based playgrounds
- A theater
- A courtyard
- Restrooms
- Staff offices
- Prairie and wetland restoration areas
The Blue Hole Nature Center Concept Plan (PDF) was submitted to the Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission through Hays County for consideration for the 2020 Hays County Parks and Open Space Bond. The total budget for this project is $3.1 million and will be acquired through potential bonds, grants, and private partnerships.
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The Patsy Glenn Refuge (PGR), sponsored by the Wimberley Birding Society (WBS), is the City of Wimberley’s first public park. The Refuge has been operated as part of the historic Winters Wimberley tract for nearly 20 years as a nature sanctuary. Recent stormwater runoff has increased and threatens an 1800’s dry stacked rock wall built by the founding families. The increased runoff also hampers educational operations on-site and damages existing trails.
WBS is proposing a creative and multi-faceted proposal to help mitigate the increased runoff. To date, nearly $14,000 has been raised/pledged for funds or in-kind donation of service hours by WBS and three project partners. Partners are:
- City of Wimberley, Parks and Recreation Department
- Cypress Creek Project Coordinator, Meadows Center for Water and Environment at Texas State University
- Hays County Master Naturalists
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The Wimberley Dog and Skate Park project was formed from 2 separate petitions. The Wimberley Dog Park petition collected over 3,000 signatures from Wimberley residents in 2016. The Skate Park petition gathered support with over 500 signatures. This project would serve as an update to Blue Hole Regional Park with an entrance off of 3237.
The concept plan includes:
- A parking and drive area composed of blacktop and permeable crushed rock
- A 3,000-square-foot in-ground skate park
- A 30-by-30 foot fabric shade canopy
- A large and small dog park
- Topsoil, sod, and native landscaping
Our proposed budget for this project is $450,000.
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The Wimberley Valley Trails initiative is an effort to develop a multi-year vision to improve connectivity in the City of Wimberley and surrounding areas. This vision includes a system of hike and bike trails, a variety of transportation options, and other strategies to help connect people with nature and link regional points of interest in the community. To pay for these improvements, the City of Wimberley and/or Hays County may apply for a variety of state and federal grants that support community development projects related to trails, job creation, or other safety improvements. It is anticipated that the project would rank very well.
The goal is to recommend multimodal options that will improve the quality of life of residents, attract tourists, improve the local economy, and identify strategies for local coordination, project prioritization, and funding for local governments. Community engagement will support these efforts and seek support for future pedestrian and bicycle routes and trail connectors.
