When planning your next Texas Hill Country adventure, a stroll down the award-winning Hill Country Mile is a must. The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association announced its 2019 Great Places in Texas designees last week, and Boerne’s Hill Country Mile was recognized as a “Great Street in Texas”. This award exemplifies exceptional character and highlights the role city planners and careful planning play in creating communities of lasting value.
Boerne’s Hill Country Mile is the 1.1 “Texas” mile stretch of historic buildings in Boerne’s downtown historic district and is home to numerous high-end boutiques, exceptional dining, colorful art galleries, public art and an urban trail system that allows the visitor to stroll along the Cibolo Creek and through Boerne’s downtown River Road Park.
Boerne’s “Main Attraction”, The Hill Country Mile is a gathering place for tourists and locals alike. The Mile offers art galleries, unique shopping, and fine dining in a historic setting that, over time, has developed into one of Texas’ great streets. The history, the arts and the charm, along with Boerne’s diverse ethnic history, make it one of the true destinations to visit in the state.
“Boerne continues to be recognized as one of the iconic Texas Hill Country destinations. Our diverse history and modern offerings lend our tourists and locals alike the opportunity to enjoy Boerne. Our numerous outdoor activities and parks, visual and performing arts, exceptional culinary opportunities and simple charm make Boerne a true gateway to the hill country” – Larry Woods, Convention and Visitors Bureau Director. The Boerne Convention and Visitors Bureau is looking forward to opening its brand-new Visitor Center at 282 N. Main St., on the Hill Country Mile, to greet out of town guests later this month.
Through Great Places in Texas, the Texas Chapter of APA recognizes unique and authentic characteristics found in three essential components of all communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live every day, places that are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. Such places are defined by many characteristics, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement.
This year marks the third year of the Great Places in Texas program, which is modeled from the American Planning Association’s ongoing Great Places in America program.
The 5 other Great Places in Texas designees for 2019 are:
- Downtown Nacogdoches - Nacogdoches, Texas (Great Neighborhood)
- Downtown Bastrop – Bastrop, Texas (Great Neighborhood)
- Levitt Pavilion - Arlington, Texas (Great Public Space)
- Discovery Green - Houston, Texas (Great Public Space)
- San Jacinto Plaza – El Paso, Texas (Great Public Space)
Great Space designees met in Austin on April 1 to accept their awards as part of the American Planning Association’s Planners’ Day at the State Capitol. For more information about the 2019 Great Places in Texas, as well as a list of the Great Places in America designees located in the state, visit www.greatplacesintexas.com.