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The Blue Hole in Wimberley, Texas. Photo Credit: Sean Scott, courtesy of The Trust for Public Land
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Friends of Blue Hole
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A natural treasure of the Texas Hill Country has been rescued from urban sprawl. The Blue Hole of Wimberley is being turned into a sustainable green space and regional park. And as Texas Public Radio's Eileen Pace reports, it should be around for the generations to come.
November 23, 2010 · It was 2002, and a developer wanted to buy the 126 acres fronting the quiet little town's Blue Hole, to use for a condominium project, complete with big shopping centers and a business park.
"First of all, Wimberley at that time, and presently, didn't want anything like that. But especially not at Blue Hole," said Wimberley mayor, Bob Flocke.
Blue Hole is a swimming hole in a deep part of the Cypress Creek where it runs through Wimberley. Take Ranch Road 12 to Old Kyle Road, turn left and make the jog to Blue Hole Road, which Flocke says has been the name of the road just about forever.
"Yeah, this is Blue Hole Way, and it's always been here, right between the Baptist church and the cemetery," Flocke said.
"That development kind of spurred people into action," said former mayor Steve Klepfer.
Blue Hole is pristine, fragile landscape where 100 yards or more of frontage was privately owned as far back as anybody can remember. But when the owners wanted to sell out about 10 years ago, it spurred the community of Wimberley into action. Klepfer said they approached local landowner, Peter Way.
"I was mayor at the time. I was so nervous, so I had rehearsed and taken notes and went to talk to Mr. Way and explained to him what was happening and what we wanted to do. And he said, 'Well, how can I help?' And I said, 'Well we need you to buy it, you know, for $3 million and hold it until while we raise the money.' And he said, 'Okay, what else?'"
Fast forward to 2005: Friends of Blue Hole was formed, and the group raised enough money in 18 months to buy back the land. A stakeholders group consulted the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for a natural, sustainable plan.
Klepfer says the park has already received accolades. Based on its design, the future Blue Hole Park will be one of only a handful of "Sustainable Sites"in the country.
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Click to enlarge.
Map of Blue Hole Regional Park Master Plan. Image courtesy of Friends of Blue Hole.
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"Blue Hole has been chosen to test, as one of the five test parks in the country, to test the sustainability landscape rating systems through an initiative called 'Sustainable Sites.' They have nine different areas of measuring the sustainability of a park: landscape, funding, type of structures you put on the ground," Klepfer explained.
"This is the Blue Hole itself. It starts about there, and ends right down there. And this is kind of to keep canoers back, because below this is what's called 'The Braids.' Cypress Creek separates into maybe 10 or 15 little streams that go around some islands and stuff and then go further down."
Flocke shows off the Blue Hole's park area that exists now—it's in the design phase—and will be the first to be redeveloped.
"We are on the—I've got to draw a map in my head—but we are in the northern edge of the park right now, and the rest of it is all south of us here. But you see this lawn? This is going to be like with picnic tables and places for families. But it's going to be pretty much like it is now."
Flocke says on 126 acres, just five trees have been identified for removal. Other phases of the park will include nature trails, bike paths, playgrounds, and, in areas that were cleared in the 1940s, soccer fields and tennis courts.
"And the highlights of the sustainable practices include green storm water systems such as rain gardens and bio swells; less than ten percent impervious cover—we're going to come in at about 6; stream bank restoration—this is critically important to us; water harvesting and reuse of toilets and irrigation; re-vegetation of the native plant species. It also includes criteria like lighting systems that shut off to not put light into the night sky," Klepfer said.
The park's sensitive areas will be protected with natural landscaping. Trails will guide visitors to interpretive areas, and water education will become part of the tour.
"The Sustainable Sites initiative is a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas, and the United States Botanical Garden. So, to be selected by group of that caliber, we're very excited about it," the former mayor added.
Capacity at Blue Hole will continue to be just 150 at a time in order to protect the environment, but more can be admitted to the park. The swimming hole is scheduled to open next May. |
