Above: “Restoration,” mural by Kathy and Lionel Sosa
Once upon a time, I logged a lot of hours at City Hall, sometimes parking on a surface lot behind it. Behind it meaning on the other side of an unrecognizable creek. An ugly footbridge, hemmed in by chained-link fencing, crossed a narrow trash-filled concrete-walled ditch – San Pedro Creek. A place creepy enough to leave me feeling I should pay an extra dollar or two to park in front of City Hall.
In this place of herons where the grasses sway in starlight I have flowed since the dawn of evermore.
John Phillip Santos, historical text carved in limestone
The stretch of San Pedro Creek between the tunnel inlet at I-35 and Houston Street beside a new office tower climbing toward the sky might only be a little more than four blocks long, but the transformation from drainage ditch to park seems miraculous to me.
Yes, I watched the earlier magic worked on the Museum and Mission Reaches of the San Antonio River Improvements Project, but there was absolutely nothing natural-creek-like remaining following decades of flood-control projects in this neighborhood.
Some dismiss projects like these as “legacy projects” fluffing up politicians’ egos with taxpayers’ dollars. Politically charged, the design process for a project this complex is rarely perfect. There are budget cuts, and still the enormous projects tend to run over-budget.
But, as with the original Paseo del Rio project, they can prove visionary. Development along the Museum Reach demonstrates how quickly highly blemished urban corridors become desirable.
John Phillip Santos historical text
Adriana M. Garcia “De Todos Caminos Somos Todos Uno”
Joe Lopez “Bellos Recuerdos del Teatro Alameda y Tiempos Pasados”
Adriana M. Garcia “De Todos Caminos Somos Todos Uno”
Adriana M. Garcia “De Todos Caminos Somos Todos Uno”
Diana Kersey “Bridges of Understanding”
“Rain from the Heavens”
Adriana M. Garcia “De Todos Caminos Somos Todos Uno”
John Phillip Santos historical text
John Phillip Santos historical text
Diana Kersey “Bridges of Understanding”
John Phillip Santos historical text
new Frost Bank Tower
Diana Kersey “Bridges of Understanding”
Diana Kersey “Bridges of Understanding”
Joe Lopez “Bellos Recuerdos del Teatro Alameda y Tiempos Pasados”
Katie Pell “Red Arch, Green Arch”
Joe Lopez “Bellos Recuerdos del Teatro Alameda y Tiempos Pasados”
Diana Kersey “Bridges of Understanding”
While flood-control is an underlying purpose of the San Pedro Creek Improvements Project, the incorporation of site-specific art reflective of the city’s history and culture gives the new pedestrian passageway a distinctive San Antonio feel.
Bexar County is the primary funder of San Pedro Creek Culture Park, and the San Antonio River Authority is project manager.
looking south from Houston Street
Work is underway on the next phase heading southward from Houston Street. As you can see from the photo, this narrow stretch probably is even more challenging.
In my mind, the photos above illustrate that the complications and difficulties encountered along the way are so worth it. Those involved are leaving a legacy that will enrich the quality of urban life for generations to come. Looking forward to walking the next phase and those to come.
Postcards from Barton Springs 