City celebrates new playground
Representatives from around Bandera, including the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce and Bandera City Council, as well as some of the people responsible for making the new playground possible, celebrate the opening of the new structure with a ribbon cutt
City and county representatives gathered at the new park on Maple Street Jan. 24 to officially open the new structure with a ribbon cutting and celebration.
“I started working on this playground in 2019, and COVID caused some delays,” said Bandera City Secretary Jill Shelton. “It is now open, and we have ordered permanent tables and benches.
Maggio’s Pizza donated food for the special event, and the Bandera Kronkosky Public LIbrary donated bubbles and activities 01for the attending children. BEC was also on site with water and snacks while officials from the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce and Bandera City Council also showed their support.
The project was funded by a 50/50 grant; $75,000 was donated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Recreation Grants Branch, $50,000 from the Bandera Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and $5,000 Bandera Electric Cooperative Foundation.
Shelton said an additional $20,000 will be requested from the EDC later this year.
Picnic tables have been ordered and donated by Lynn and John Palmer of Custom Glass and Mirror, the 11th Street Cowboy Bar and Kevin and Julier Meier.
Benches have been ordered and donated by Anthony Ferragamo of Edward Jones Investments and Karen Osman of the Bandera Cowgirls.
Shelton expressed thanks to the Public Works Department for site prep and installation of temporary tables, trash cans and a BBQ pit as well as to Ray Vernon, who designed the playground with Exerplay and is donating the landscaping and a memorial bench in memory of his wife.