City Council also approved the name of the renovated playground at Boerne City Park, which will be named Ammie’s Playground, named after Ammie Palacios, a young girl whose story inspired inclusivity at Boerne Parks, according to the resolution.
The details
The cost of the light upgrades is $793,174, which will be funded through quality of life bonds, which were approved by voters in 2022, Parks and Recreation Director Lissette Jimenez said.
“This is only covering the light upgrades, so this is not considering the irrigation or resodding of Field 11 at Northrup,” she said.
The lighting upgrades will comply with the Dark Sky International Program and are not expected to affect the use of fields. The project is estimated to be completed in the summer, with Northrup taking around five to six weeks after work begins, and Boerne City Park taking six to seven weeks.
What else?
The playground at Boerne City Park has been under renovation since Jan. 6 and upon reopening will be recognized as Ammie’s Playground.
During the Feb. 11 meeting, Jimenez told City Council that Ammie Palacios was born with significant developmental and muscular challenges, and despite doctors’ expectations that she would only live for a few months, defied the odds and reached the age of 3 with the dedicated support of her family and caregivers.
According to background information on the agenda, Ammie’s mother took her to a local park, where Ammie struggled to navigate the mulch surface with her motorized walker. Ammie’s mother placed her in a tire swing, allowing her to enjoy park amenities, and this interaction sparked efforts to make Boerne parks more accessible.
Following Ammie’s passing, the Boerne Parks Association led a campaign, raising $155,000 for the renovation of the playground at Boerne City Park.
The renaming of the playground was unanimously approved by City Council, and Mayor Frank Ritchie stated the significance of being able to highlight a member of the community.
“This is a wonderful thing for our community, and I am so happy we are doing something like this,” he said.
