Government
BY JARRETT WHITENER
Northside Community Park breaks ground in Boerne
The rst phase of Northside Community Park in Boerne o cially broke ground Sept. 3, marking the beginning of the bond-funded project. The park, which includes a skate park, trails and public restrooms, closed Aug. 22 to prepare for construction. Construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete. The nearly 40-acre, $17.3 million project will renovate the park to serve as a gathering place for the more than 700,000 people who visit Boerne’s green spaces each year, city sta said. The project is the largest parks and recreation development the city has undertaken to date. The parkland was purchased as part of a 2007 bond election, according to city documents. Alongside city and 2022 bond funding, a $750,000 grant was awarded by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for the construction of the park. Mayor Pro Tem Ty Wolosin said the project highlights one of the many reasons that people want to live in Boerne. “That charm is not accidental,” Wolosin said. “It comes from the people that care deeply about their neighbors, about preserving our Hill Country character, and about creating spaces where community can thrive.”
Northside Community Park Park boundary Parking Facilities 1 Tennis courts 2 Pickleball courts 3 Multiuse elds
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4 Splash pad 5 Playground 6 Stormwater detention pond
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RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF BOERNE
SOURCE: CITY OF BOERNE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Also of note
What they’re saying
The framework
While the focus of the park is providing space for the community, City Manager Ben Thatcher said the approach is to be as sustainable as possible. Communications Director Chris Shadrock, in an email, said the park project will require the removal of around 3.5% of trees in the park. However, city sta plans to plant 86 canopy trees, resulting in a 10% increase in total trees in the park. Thatcher said the trees planned for removal will be repurposed as mulch, and the trunks will be recycled for agility amenities in the dog park or playground. “This park is another clear example of how we can take community input, align it with our stra- tegic goals and deliver something extraordinary,” Thatcher said. The city also plans to incorporate multiple low-impact development treatments into the park design, which includes sustainable drainage improvements such as stormwater detention basins and rainwater catchment systems.
Planned amenities and improvements include:
Multiuse elds with sports lighting
Food court with restrooms, shade structures and picnic tables 12 pickleball courts with shade structure and LED lighting Basketball pavilion with two courts and LED lighting
City o cials celebrated the groundbreaking of Northside Community Park on Sept. 3
Splash pad
JARRETT WHITENER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Dog park for small and large dogs
Mayor Frank Ritchie highlighted the work of current and previous sta and city council members who have made the park a possibility. Ritchie said the cooperation between sta and the community, alongside resident feedback, will leave a legacy that can be enjoyed by generations to come. “This project is a testament to what makes Boerne so special,” Ritchie said.
Half-mile walking trail
All-inclusive playgrounds
Stormwater detention ponds
SOURCE: CITY OF BOERNE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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