By Chris Shadrock
The efforts of Boerne’s Parks and Recreation Department towards developing Northside Community Park have received a significant boost with a $750,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The funds, officially approved at the TPWD’s January 23 meeting in Austin, were awarded in the highly competitive Non-Urban Outdoor Scoring category.
“We are thrilled to have received this level of support for Northside Community Park,” Boerne City Manager Ben Thatcher said. “This grant will help us bring to life a project that reflects the community’s vision for outdoor recreation and connection.”
The $750,000 grant represents the highest award granted to any community in this funding round. Boerne’s project ranked sixth out of 22 funded applications in the Non-Urban Outdoor category, which had 58 total applicants.
Once completed, the park will provide Boerne residents with enhanced opportunities for outdoor activities and recreation. The City of Boerne purchased the land as part of the 2007 bond election and voters approved the development of Northside Community Park as part of the City’s 2022 Quality of Life bond election.
“As we get closer to kicking off construction, this project underscores the City’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for quality park spaces,” Parks and Recreation Director Lissette Jimenez said. “Additionally, the grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife reflects its success in securing state-level support for local projects.”
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced that as of August 1, 2024, it had received 103 eligible applications requesting more than $58.8 million in matching fund assistance. In response, the department recommended $30.9 million in funding for projects.
Construction on Northside Community Park is expected to begin in summer 2025.
