When the Hill Country community of Wimberley was faced with the possibility of losing its sacred Blue Hole swimming area to private commercial development, it sprang into action. A fundraising drive was initiated and with sufficient funds gathered in 2005, 126 acres were purchased as a City regional park site.
With the land secured, focus shifted to a broad-based, four-year planning effort that included several public agencies and plenty of community and citizen input.
Let the Work Begin
In the fall of 2010, construction began on the first phase of the park’s improvements. Phase one included work to the Blue Hole swimming area itself, paved parking, bathhouses, a park office, anda large fire pit and picnic area. Remarkably, all of the first phase’s improvements were done on time and became available to visitors upon the park opening in June 2011.
The second phase improvements, which were completed in 2012, included two covered pavilions, six tennis courts, two multiple use soccer fields, a sand volleyball, a basketball court, an amphitheatre, trail system for hike and bike use, playground and picnic spaces, and an open green space known as the “Great Lawn.”
More recently, a dramatic overlook to the Cypress Creek containing famous tree swings for a fun free-fall to the 70 degree spring fed waters below was completed, as was work on an overnight campsite area. Other improvements are being planned for the years to come.
Environmentally Sensitive Development and Low-Impact Materials
Workers on the project employed special care and construction techniques that preserve and respect the sensitive environment of Blue Hole’s watershed. The sloping metal roofs of all the facilities serve as rainwater collectors transferring runoff to collection cisterns designated to keep localized plantings green and healthy.
Low impact and natural materials were used throughout the site from pathways through signage to blend the park’s man-made improvements into its native surroundings with minimal real or visual impact of the local ecosystem.
The Blue Hole Anchors Regional Park Efforts
The Blue Hole has been well known as a destination for swimming, camping, and enjoying nature along the spring-fed Cypress Creek for years and years. In 2013, Globe Traveling named it among the top 10 Most Beautiful Swimming Holes in America.
One of the integral concepts as the park was developed was to preserve the natural condition of the creek and its banks. The grass banks along the park side of the river are lush and are a favorite with sunbathers.
There are a number of different admission fees to Blue Hole depending on visitors’ ages. All fees are applied to operating and expanding services at the park. As a means to control the wear and tear on their natural resource, the City of Wimberley limits the access to the swimming area to no more than 200 people at a time. The park is open year-round with the swimming area open only in the summer months. Pavilions, play fields, campsites, and picnic areas are all available for reservations.
The Community as Nature’s Custodian
The bold move made by the community of Wimberley has saved this local jewel for continued public enjoyment. Looking forward, the conservation measures that were integral to the project will help it deliver recreational value back to the community, and future generations, for a very long time.