Community leaders and schoolchildren will gather in Kerrville to dedicate a new playground honoring those who died in the devastating July 4, 2025 flood.
KERRVILLE, Texas — A new playground in Kerrville now stands as a place for children to play, and a place for the community to remember.
Local leaders, schoolchildren and representatives from WoodmenLife will gather Monday morning at Flat Rock Park to dedicate a new playground built in honor of those who lost their lives in the devastating July 4, 2025 flood.
The original playground at the park was swept away during the catastrophic flooding that struck Kerrville and surrounding areas.
During the ceremony, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, county officials and WoodmenLife representatives will join about 30 students from the Salvation Army Kroc Academy for a ribbon-cutting and flag-raising.
A plaque will also be unveiled recognizing the victims of the disaster.
Children attending the event will receive backpacks filled with food for spring break, and organizers will share hot chocolate and refreshments as part of the gathering.
The new playground was funded in part by donations raised after the flood.
More than 20 inches of rain fell across Central Texas on July 4, 2025, causing the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in just 45 minutes.
The flooding killed 137 people, including 119 in Kerr County, according to officials. Many of the victims were school-aged children attending summer camps in the area.
Following the tragedy, WoodmenLife raised more than $160,000 in relief funds. The money was split between immediate relief efforts, direct financial support for families, and rebuilding the playground lost in the flood.
Community leaders say the new playground is meant to be both a place of healing and a reminder of the community’s resilience in the face of tragedy.