The City of Boerne is seeking community input on the name of the new park currently under construction at the intersection of Adler and Toepperwein roads.
Boerne City Council has directed City staff to evaluate potential park names using several guiding considerations that reflect Boerne’s history, character, natural environment, and community values.
Construction at the park, currently referred to as Northside Community Park, began in September 2025 and should last 12 to 18 months.
Survey
The survey is closed as of Friday, May 29.
City staff will compile the results and present the findings to City Council, which will select the final name of the park.
The goal is to identify a name that is meaningful and representative of the community the park will serve for generations to come.
Naming Guidelines
When reviewing potential names, the City may consider:
- Cultural and Community Identity
- Geological and Ecological Features
- Historic Connections
- Recognition of Community Contributions
Cultural and Community Identity
Potential names may:
- Celebrate Boerne’s cultural identity and character.
- Reflect a welcoming and family-oriented community space.
For example: This could combine the area’s agricultural heritage with the park’s role as a community gathering space. Names in this category are typically broader and more regional in application.
Geological and Ecological Features
Names may also reflect natural characteristics of the site or surrounding landscape, including:
- Native trees, natural vegetation, and water features such as creeks.
- Hill Country terrain and landforms.
- Ecological elements historically associated with the area.
For example: An area of the park retains 6.5 acres with native Live Oak Mott trees that were preserved within the project. Names in this category are more singularly focused on a specific feature or element.
Historic Connections
Potential names may reflect significant historic ties to the property or surrounding area, including:
- Historic uses of the property.
- Remaining historic features or structures.
- Historically significant nearby landmarks or community connections.
For example: This could include families with strong ties to the area such as the Adlers and Presslers, or the existing historic features/structures like the ice house on the property. Another example is Adolph “Ad” Toepperwein, noted exhibition marksman, who was born in Boerne in 1869.
Recognition of Community Contributions
The City may also consider names honoring:
- Individuals or families with significant community impact and monetary donations.
- Sustained service or advancement of recreational opportunities.
- Individuals or families with longstanding ties to the land.
For example: One such individual is Linda Cornelius, the the City’s first Parks and Recreation director, who led the efforts to purchase the property. Learn more about Linda.
Property History
Historical research conducted through the Boerne Public Library archives indicates the property has a long agricultural history dating to the mid-1800s.
Its origins began in 1837 as a land grant to Maria Ignacia Leal. Ownership changed several times before the land was purchased in 1942 by Ernst and Rosa Pressler, second-generation German immigrants who farmed extensively in the Boerne area.
The Pressler family maintained the property for several decades until the City of Boerne acquired the 40-acre tract in 2008 for $1.5 million. The Pressler Icehouse, constructed of limestone and used for food preparation and dairy operations, remains on the property and represents one of the few surviving structures associated with the original farmstead.
