Wimberley Parks & Rec Advisory Board: swim registrations, camp hiring, playground choice and next steps on grants

The Wimberley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on March 11 approved the February minutes, heard a multi-part parks director report, approved a playground design choice, and set future meeting dates.

Parks Director Erica reported swim-registration opened March 1 and the department had sold 172 of 400 resident season passes to date. Spring-break camp (staffed by year-round employees) is sold out at its 20-child cap; nature camp has 163 registrations while the community-center summer camp lags at 30. Erica said seasonal hiring is ongoing with roughly half the needed staff hired for several positions.

Staff noted maintenance and capital needs: Blue Hole water fountains are aging (estimated at roughly $1,000+ each to replace), the community-center HVAC has had recent repair costs, and a dock repair at Blue Hole will likely cost at least $1,000 following inspection. The department has taken delivery of a sky-quality meter, to be installed at Blue Hole in collaboration with Wimberley Valley Dark Skies and linked to a national database.

On park improvements, the board selected a musical panel for the interactive element at Martha Neese Community Park after staff reported both the musical and optical ("Moray") options would cost the same; the motion passed unanimously.

Logistics: the board confirmed April 8, May 13 and June 10 as future meeting dates and discussed outreach to Hays County staff and Commissioner Hammer27s office about trails and regional coordination. The meeting adjourned following a final aye vote.

Votes and formal motions included approval of the February minutes, a recommendation to city council on the Friends of Wimberley Parks sponsorship contract, selection of the musical panel for Martha Neese Park, and a recommendation about the Blue Hole Nature Center design.