The teaching-the-teachers workshop conflicted with the February 27 opening of a revitalized pocket park perched above the San Antonio River at Crofton and Constance, directly across the river from the Blue Star silos. Coincidentally, the historical materials Bill Perryman included for “River of Dreams” attendees included a Crofton Avenue reference from an oral history interview of H.T. Edwards Hertzberg conducted by Lupita Fernandez about the 1921 flood for the San Antonio Conservation Society:
The water was flowing down Crofton Ave. at least three feet deep and our house was sitting on piles just high enough not to be inundated.
Today, the Olmos Dam and a 16,200-foot-long flood tunnel keep Crofton and Constance safe from such dangers.
In addition to the public sponsors of the park re-do, the King William neighborhood association – thanks to thousands of volunteer hours and King William Fair-goers’ unselfish willingness to consume beer for a good cause – kicked in with a substantial donation to the San Antonio River Foundation.
The public/private partnership resulted in two wonderful faux bois benches crafted by Carlos Cortes, whose massive grotto in the Museum Reach invites exploration. If you can’t visit the grotto personally, explore it virtually via Flicker.
Note added March 15: The Kronkosky Charitable Foundation talks about the value of pocket parks in the community.
Postcards from Barton Springs 