Blue Hole Regional Park continues to win awards!

The Texas Municipal League ("TML") has presented the City of Wimberley with the 2012 Municipal Excellence Award for Public Works for cities of less than 25,000 population. The award recognizes the City for the unique design and development of the Blue Hole Regional Park.

Peter Way, Director and President of Friends of Blue Hole, said that he could not be more pleased with the honor, noting that “support from the community was a key ingredient in this private-public partnership that resulted in saving a peerless natural resource from private development and exploitation.”

Blue Hole Regional Park participates in an international project (SITES)
to evaluate new systems for sustainable landscapes. 

Wimberley Mayor Bob Flocke said, "We are honored to receive this award. The Blue Hole Regional Park clearly sets a new standard for municipal park planning in the State of Texas and it’s exciting for the City to be recognized for doing so."

In 2005, the City of Wimberley embarked on a mission to save "Blue Hole" - a well known, spring-fed swimming hole - from the threat of private development and environmental degradation.  After an unprecedented public and private fund raising effort, the "Blue Hole" and approximately 126 acres of land surrounding it were purchased and developed into a regional park.  The Blue Hole Regional Park is now one of the largest pieces of natural, public land in Hays County that has been preserved and converted into a park. Blue Hole Regional Park is composed of recreational facilities that include covered pavilions, nature trails, a playground and,  of course, the iconic swimming hole. 

"The Park protects sacred Hill Country flora and fauna, water quality, and land forms through sustainable programming and design, native landscape restoration and habitat protection," said Mayor Flocke. "It's a true Texas treasure."

Mayor Flocke and other members of the Blue Hole project team accepted the prestigious TML award this week at the Texas Municipal League Annual Conference in Grapevine, Texas. TML is a voluntary association of more than 1,120 Texas cities. Its primary objective is to serve the needs and advocate the interests of Texas cities and it is the largest organization of its kind in the United States. The City of Wimberley is a TML member.

* * * *

Please make a tax deductible donation so that Friends of Blue Hole can continue work in Phase Two. Donations will be used to pay for ongoing park development, including tennis courts and other sporting venues. See Park Details for a complete list.
Three easy ways to donate:

1. Send a check to Friends of Blue Hole, PO Box 1601 Wimberley, TX 78676
2. Go to Friends of Blue Hole web site and donate by credit card.
3. Stop by The Old Mill Store and drop off a donation with Steve Klepfer, Executive Director of Friends of Blue Hole.
4. You can also help by putting your family name in the park forever. Benches start at $2,500. See LEGACY NAMING OPPORTUNITIES.

www.friendsofbluehole.org

Director and President Peter Way

Executive Director Stephen Klepfer • Directors: Jim Braniff • Curt Busk • Bob Dussler

Tevis Grinstead • Suzanne McCord • Andy Sansom • Shelton Smith • Marilee Wood

Advisory Directors: Valarie Bristol • Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Thurber