Martha Knies Community Park officially dedicated

Martha Knies Community Park was officially named by a Mayor’s Proclamation Saturday March 20 at a small ceremony for city officials, family and friends at the park.

Situated just a short walk down Old Kyle Road from the Wimberley Square is the newly named Martha Knies Community Park. The Square is where it all began for Keep Wimberley Beautiful.

Knies noticed a need, an unkempt Wimberley Square, while sitting with friends at the old Cypress Creek Café. She decided to do something about it and started pulling weeds, in good clothes! Realizing their folly, they decided to come back and do it right in the right clothes. That was the start of Keep Wimberley Beautiful.

Meanwhile after many awards for KWB’s efforts, Keep Texas Beautiful awarded the community Gold Status for this year once again, announced by KWB’s President Carol Scheel. But an individual award is the most prestigious of all, The Keep Texas Beautiful Leadership Award.

“The most prestigious award Keep Texas Beautiful presents, this once-in-a-lifetime distinction is awarded to an individual who has provided outstanding leadership in improving and enhancing the environment of their community, the state of Texas and beyond.” Word for word, that is Martha Knies, and she was named the award winner for 2020.

But perhaps her bigger honor came when she was recognized by the City of Wimberley, naming the pocket park at the head of the Cypress Creek Trail for her. The city approved the park’s renaming in 2019, but due to Covid restrictions, the dedication was postponed to last Saturday. Her remarks at the program, “I can’t believe it’s me. It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of this.”

Mayor Gina Fulkerson presented the proclamation to Martha. A bench made by her grandchildren in attendance was also presented. The ceremony featured KWB’s president Scheel, Park’s Director Richard Shaver and others with warm words for the honoree in a program by Stephanie Nestlerode.

It was a beautiful day for the community, honoring the one who nurtured Wimberley, Martha Knies, and it all started in good clothes.