Blue Hole Regional Park

Location

Wimberley, TX
United States

Project Size
126 acres
Project type
Open space - Park
Site Context
Suburban
Former Land Use
Greenfield
Terrestrial Biome
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
Budget
$3,450,000
Project overview

Located in the heart of the rugged Texas Hill Country, the cool pristine waters of the “Blue Hole” have attracted local swimmers for decades. Threatened by development, the swimming hole and surrounding 126 acres were purchased in 2005 by the City of Wimberley to protect the beloved icon, which had nearly been “loved to death” by overuse, and to create a sustainable regional park. Informed by a stakeholder-led design process, the design team created a plan that protected and enhanced the site’s ecologically sensitive areas, despite the addition of 320,000 square feet of new park amenities. Today, the park offers swimming, an extensive interpretive education program, and active and passive recreation amenities for thousands of annual visitors. photo by Tim Campbell, Design Workshop

Project Team
  • City of Wimberley, Texas: Don Ferguson, City Administrator, Land use and Municipal Operations
  • Design Workshop: Steven Spears, Principal-in-Charge (Design and Implementation); Rebecca Leonard, Principal-in-Charge (Master Plan Refinement and Public Outreach); Philip Koske, Project Manager; Kelan Smith, Wayfinding Signage and Interpretive Design; Conners Ladner, Landscape Designer; Derek McCall, Landscape Designer; Nino Pero, Website Design; Patricia Albright, Project Assistant
  • Baker/Aiklen: Ken Aiklen, Professional Engineer
  • GreenPlay: Chris Dropinski, Senior Principal; Pat O’Toole, Project Manager
  • Taniguchi & Associates: Evan Taniguchi, Architect
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Steve Windhager, Ecologist
  • Regenerative Environmental Design: Heather Venhaus, Environmental Consultant
  • MJ Structures: Richard Martin, Structural Engineer
  • PBS&J: Jeff Kessel, Senior Project Engineer
  • FUELS: David Parr, Project Engineer
  • T.F. Harper and Associates - Construction: Tommy Harper, Principal; Brian Palmore, Senior Project Manager