Boerne’s Parks and Recreation Department cares for the 10 gorgeous parks and three scenic trails that connect residents and visitors alike with the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country.
But as the name suggests, the department is more than just parks. Recreation Coordinator Erick Alarcon is part of the team that brings the community together with year-round recreation programming and events.
Each year, the department hosts at least 35 events, like movies in the park, the Easter egg hunt, the family fishing tournament, Boerne Boo, and the Weihnachts Parade. The team also coordinates multiple adult recreation leagues across seven sports and works with youth sports organizations to provide athletic opportunities for Boerne’s young people.
“We always want to make sure we’re putting out the best we can for those who partake in anything we provide,” Alarcon said. “Because No. 1, we care about what we do, and No. 2, it could be someone’s first time coming out to one of our events. If we’re not giving it our all, that’s the reputation you’re going to leave with them.”
Erick manages the adult men’s softball leagues, which includes team registrations, schedule building, hiring umpires, monitoring the games, and giving awards. Last year’s winners took home custom jerseys.
He’s also the aquatics coordinator for the Municipal Pool, working with outside organizations that use the pool throughout the year. He hires the seasonal pool staff for the summer, which amounted to 26 lifeguards and front desk staff this past summer.
For Erick, the best part of the job is seeing the community coming together.
“You can tell the families appreciate it. I enjoy seeing the looks on the kids’ faces as they enjoy our events,” he said. “We go out there and do our best to make sure they have fun, and we try to keep all our events free so there is no financial burden.”
Even though he’s worked for the department for just three years, he has quickly made an impact. Whether he’s tracking down event sponsors, recruiting volunteers, or thinking of the department’s next great social media post, Erick brings excellence to his job every day.
Because of that, he was recently recognized with the Community Services Directors’ Award at the annual employee luncheon.
Erick’s versatility and dedication have been vital to the department’s success. He has improved social media engagement, secured the largest donor in the history of the annual Skate Battle, and created in-house the layout for Dickens on Main, saving costs and ensuring seamless coordination across all partners.
Erick has strengthened operations at the Municipal Pool by earning his Aquatic Facility Operator certification and establishing a positive culture that led to an outstanding lifeguard retention rate.
Lissette Jimenez, Parks and Recreation Director
Before joining the City of Boerne, Erick worked for the City of El Paso’s Parks and Recreation Department, coordinating programming for senior citizens and athletics.
He enjoys the community feeling that brings many people to Boerne.
“People here do a lot more for others than for themselves. It’s something you don’t get everywhere,” he said.
So, the next time you’re at a Boerne Parks and Recreation event, be sure to thank Erick and the rest of the team for their time and dedication.
