Download & Print
Photos by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
January 24, 2023
City Park playground is open now
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera city officials and county supporters gathered for a celebratory ribbon cutting at the unofficially named Bandera City Park Playground on Monday. The park, which was completed in December, represents a collaboration of efforts from municipal, county and state organizations.
Conceived in 2019, the project - initiated by City Secretary Jill Shelton - suffered delays at the onset of the Covid pandemic, but picked up momentum last year. Funded by a 50/50 grant, $75,000 was donated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Recreation Grants Branch. The remaining funds were provided by the Bandera Economic Development Corporation and the Bandera Electric Cooperative Foundation.
During yesterday’s ceremony, Shelton thanked the city Public Works Department and Ray Vernon, who designed the playground and donated native landscaping. Vernon, a Bandera resident, will also donate a bench in his wife’s memory, who passed away last year.
Other thanks Shelton issued included Maggio’s Pizza, the Kronkosky Bandera Library, the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce, Jeff and Nicole Flowers and BEC. Picnic tables have already been donated by Lynn and John Palmer with Custom Glass & Mirror; the 11th Street Cowboy Bar; and Kevin and Julie Meier. Benches have been donated by Anthony Ferragamo of Edward Jones Investments and Karen Osman of the Bandera Cowgirls.
The park is located near the Bandera Boys & Girls Club and the skatepark at 8th and Maple Street.
“This is the fruition of a lot of years of work and a lot of cooperation,” Mayor Rebeca Gibson said. “Be on the lookout for more park additions and recreational activities for families.”
Conceived in 2019, the project - initiated by City Secretary Jill Shelton - suffered delays at the onset of the Covid pandemic, but picked up momentum last year. Funded by a 50/50 grant, $75,000 was donated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Recreation Grants Branch. The remaining funds were provided by the Bandera Economic Development Corporation and the Bandera Electric Cooperative Foundation.
During yesterday’s ceremony, Shelton thanked the city Public Works Department and Ray Vernon, who designed the playground and donated native landscaping. Vernon, a Bandera resident, will also donate a bench in his wife’s memory, who passed away last year.
Other thanks Shelton issued included Maggio’s Pizza, the Kronkosky Bandera Library, the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce, Jeff and Nicole Flowers and BEC. Picnic tables have already been donated by Lynn and John Palmer with Custom Glass & Mirror; the 11th Street Cowboy Bar; and Kevin and Julie Meier. Benches have been donated by Anthony Ferragamo of Edward Jones Investments and Karen Osman of the Bandera Cowgirls.
The park is located near the Bandera Boys & Girls Club and the skatepark at 8th and Maple Street.
“This is the fruition of a lot of years of work and a lot of cooperation,” Mayor Rebeca Gibson said. “Be on the lookout for more park additions and recreational activities for families.”