PARKS & THE OUTDOORS

SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME OUTDOORS

BOERNE IS BLESSED WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS

RIVER ROAD PARK

Looking for a place to relax and enjoy what nature has to offer? Come to River Road Park, located just off Main Street on River Road near downtown Boerne. Residents and visitors alike come to the park to enjoy the many features this beautiful location has to offer. Feeding the many ducks that reside there that are beautiful, colorful and playful is one of the most popular activities at this picturesque park. There is also a winding walking trail where you can take a leisurely stroll, ride a bike or rollerblade. There are also clean picnic tables where you can enjoy a picnic or just relax and read a book. You may also see people of all ages fishing from the riverbanks and turtles that will occasionally pop their heads up out of the water. If you love being in a serene and peaceful place and enjoying what mother nature has to offer then visit River Road Park in Boerne.

BOERNE CITY PARK

City Park, 106 City Park Road, is in a unique natural setting as it shares a border with Cibolo Creek, which boasts some of the most magnificent cypress-lined banks of the Cibolo. The park still serves as Boerne’s largest park. In 1964, efforts were underway by the city to acquire a 125-acre tract of land to serve as the city’s first developed park. The mayor, Ray Smart, was notified on February 10, 1965, by a Western Union telegram from Ralph W. Yarborough, U.S. Senator, that Boerne would be receiving $12,159 from a federal grant to aid in the purchase of the park land. Developed shortly after the city purchased the land in 1964, City Park was unique in that it offered the widest variety of recreational opportunities of any park in the city at the time. It also served for many years as the city’s only park that supported athletic activities such as softball, baseball, tennis and soccer. Today, the park has tennis facilities, multi-purpose fields and a swimming pool.

BOERNE CITY LAKE

Located about one mile northwest of Boerne off of Upper Cibolo Creek Road, this large lake has attracted outdoor enthusiasts for decades. Concerned over flooding in Boerne, city forefathers recognized a need to create a means to assist with flood control. An application was made to the Texas Water Commission to seek approval for water rights in the Cibolo Creek Watershed of the San Antonio River Basin. The Texas Water Commission granted permission to the city of Boerne on January 7, 1972, to construct and maintain a dam and reservoir on Cibolo Creek for municipal purposes to aid in flood control. In September 2005, the Boerne City Council approved development of City Lake Park. To protect this valuable asset of the city, theBoerne City Councilapproved the first set ofordinances for the lakein March 1979. One of the most significant rules of the lake is that no motorized boats are allowed on the lake. This is to further protect the water. However, sail boats, row boats and kayaks are allowed. The park also offers swimming, picnic areas, disc golf, a pavilion and other amenities.

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MAIN PLAZA

The central focus point of downtown Boerne, Main Plaza, 100 N. Main St., was the first area designated in the city of Boerne to serve as a community park. It was established about 1852 and was known as the Common Area. This area was much larger than the remaining part, which is now known as Main Plaza. The plaza is in the heart of Boerne and serves as the site of numerous festivals, concerts, car shows, celebrations and Boerne Market Days. The park features a gazebo, which serves as a location for weddings and concerts.

VETERANS PLAZA

At 801 South Main St., Veterans Plaza is one of the original four park sites in Boerne. The park is filled with a variety of trees and sidewalks that lead to the center of the park, where the Veterans War Memorial is located. The park is the site of annual gatherings for veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies. Many Kendall County residents have answered the call to duty to serve their country in time of war. In 1923, the H.J. Graham family erected a memorial monument near the center of Military Plaza (today known as Veterans Plaza) honoring all the men who died as a result of military action in the armed forces during World War I. The names of those who lost their lives are listed on the four sides of the monument. Years later, a bronze piece was added to the top of the monument recognizing veterans. And plaques were added to recognize those that were killed in combat during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. As part of the 2014 renovation plaques were added recognizing those killed in combat during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Included with the 2014 renovations of Veterans Plaza, “The Walk of Honor” was installed. The Walk of Honor was part of a fund raising project to help finance some of the shortfall for the entire park renovations. It is an extra wide walkway from Main St to the center of the park lined with bricks that include names of family and friends that served or are still serving in the military.

BOERNE SKATE PARK

Located across from Curing Elementary School at 524 Adler St., this park covers about 7,500 square feet featuring a plaza style design. The city worked with the local skating community to get its input on what the park should feature. The result was a one of a kind streetscape plaza style park that features various skate ramps.

KINDERPARK

Located at 111 Water St., this fenced and shaded park is very popular with families with younger children. Kinderpark is perfect for small birthday parties and gatherings. Amenities include a covered pavilion, picnic tables, benches and a unique and exciting playground.

CIBOLO NATURE CENTER & FARM

One of Boerne’s true natural gems, the Cibolo Nature Center was born of the dreams of local citizens who wished to see natural habitat not only restored, but preserved in perpetuity. Since the 1980s, the CNC has continued to develop and grow both in size and in learning opportunities, celebrating the Hill Country land and natural resources as an important legacy. With conservation as its primary focus, the CNC’s library and exhibits allow for learning, while its many trails let visitors explore a variety of ecosystems within a small area through which a beautiful, cypress-bordered stretch of the Cibolo Creek runs.

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CAVES

Beyond the shops and bustle of historic downtown, Boerne’s host of natural features are a must see for any visitor. From unbelievable living caves to beloved natural preserves, nature enthusiasts and thrill seekers will find something to suit their fancy. From day outings to camping trips, the wonders of the Texas Hill Country will be memory-making for any family.

Ever since the publication of the famous German-American novel, The Hermit of the Cavern, the caves of the Texas Hill Country have been a beacon to the stalwart adventurer and casual spelunker alike.

Cascade Caverns first opened its doors in the early 1930s, and Cave-Withouta-Name followed just a few years later in 1939. These natural wonders are made possible by Boerne’s unique location on a massive deposit of calcium carbonate – or limestone. Over millions of years, underground rivers and groundwater eroded the limestone, leaving behind the massive caverns and breathtaking formations that exist today. The geological process can still be seen, as both of these caves are “living” and water continues to erode and deposit formations at a glacial pace.

At Cascade Caverns, visitors can wander through the winding corridors, looking for the unique Cascade Caverns Salamander that makes its home in the lake. For those seeking an extra thrill, Adventure Tours take spelunkers down into the mud for an unprecedented, up-close look at the cavern system.

Set amid the turning backroads of the Hill Country, a scenic drive north of town takes wanderers to Cave Without A Name. Known as “the Little Carlsbad,” Cave Without A Name boasts a near endless collection of breathtaking formations, as well as several large, open caverns where visitors can experience the renowned acoustics at frequent concerts. Camping facilities are available at both locations.

One of Boerne’s most historic and beautiful structures, the Herff farmhouse and its surrounding property, was purchased recently as an extension of the Cibolo Nature Center. Something of a neighborhood gathering place, the Herff Farm land is the location of a community garden, a weekly farmers market and other special events.

COUNTY PARKS

Three county parks lie within just a few miles of Boerne’s central Main Street area. The Joshua Springs Park & Preserve is the first of the county’s large and beautiful nature areas and a place where walkers and hikers can enjoy an extensive trail system as a way to experience the Hill Country in a peaceful, up-close-andpersonal way. Birders are provided with many opportunities for sightings, including areas that are specifically dedicated to chimney swifts and bluebirds, while fishermen are welcome at the park’s ponds and waterways. The most developed of the county’s three parks, Joshua Springs offers pavilion and playground facilities, among many other amenities. Just around the bend from Comfort, the James Kiehl River Bend is a 25-acre area of exceptional beauty and peace dedicated to a local veteran who died in Iraq. Almost 2,000 feet of riverfront land allow visitors swimming, paddling and fishing access to the exceptional beauty of the Hill Country’s celebrated Guadalupe River. Another lovely and quiet spot is the Kreutzberg Canyon Natural Area - more than 100 more acres of rolling countryside adjoining the Guadalupe. Left largely undeveloped, three miles of paths trace the river’s banks, while wildlife observation blinds allow visitors to stop and observe the natural world around them.

GUADALUPE RIVER STATE PARK

East of Boerne, just past the quaint hamlet of Bergheim, is the Guadalupe River State Park. Horse lovers have access to several miles of an equestrian trail system, and campers can pitch their tents on any of the multiple camping sites. Miles of water access allows enthusiasts to fish, paddle, swim and float, while the Children’s Discovery Center gives children hands-on access to exhibits, themed discovery boxes and a backpack of tools that make exploring the park fun.

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