Parks board urges design tweaks, fundraising push after Blue Hole Nature Center comes in $1 million over budget

The Wimberley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on March 11 asked staff to return to architect Lake Flato with design alternatives and funding options after the Blue Hole Nature Center design came in about $1 million over budget.

Parks Director Erica reported the firm revised the plan by consolidating two buildings into one to hit the target budget. "It was about $1,000,000 over budget, so some cuts were made," she said, explaining the team reduced to a single building while keeping classroom and storage sizing roughly the same.

Board members said the one-building design raises programmatic and circulation concerns. Members warned the reduced plan includes fewer restrooms and less continuous shaded porch and exhibit wall space. "Two bathrooms for 20 kids is kind of unfortunate," one member said, noting summer-camp logistics and event rental use; another observed that the storage location interrupts the porch circulation and suggested relocating storage to free up continuous covered exhibit space.

Staff clarified funding and grant timelines: the project currently includes $3 million from the Hays County parks bond and $750,000 from the local outdoor grant; the team plans to apply for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) indoor recreation grant that opens May 1 and closes in August. Erica said TPWD award notices would come in January 2027 and that an agreement likely would not allow indoor construction to start until about July 2027, which would delay construction sequencing if the grant is pursued. "We wouldn't be able to start construction on this project until July 2027" if the indoor grant is sought, she said.

Members discussed whether to delay work to chase the TPWD funds. Several said waiting and aligning grants is prudent, while also acknowledging construction costs may rise during the extra year. Board members suggested using the delay to pursue local fundraising to bridge gaps and asked staff to request alternate, cost‑conscious design options from Lake Flato that preserve interpretive and shaded space.

Design-detail requests the board asked staff to convey to Lake Flato include: reconsidering the location of storage so covered porch/exhibit space can be continuous; options for additional restroom capacity or interior access rather than exterior-only family restrooms; and modest freestanding shade/interpretive features that would add exhibit area without the full cost of a separate building. Members also suggested lower-cost materials or simpler finishes as potential savings.

The board voted to recommend staff return to Lake Flato with those questions and options and to explore fundraising and grant sequencing. The recommendation passed on a voice vote.