You may not know it yet, but there is a hidden treasure trove at the San Pedro Creek Culture Park in downtown San Antonio. You won’t find gold or silver there, but you will certainly find photo opportunities that will take your Instagram to the next level. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a casual social media user, the park’s first phase, which opened in May 2018, is full of stunning visuals that you’re just going to have to share with your followers.
“Bellos Recuerdos del Teatro Alameda y Tiempos Pasados (Beautiful Memories of the Alameda Theater and Times Passed)”
The mural, painted by local artist Joe Lopez, captures the vibrant community that once enlivened the Alameda Theater and depicts the theater as “El Corazón,” the heart, of downtown San Antonio.
“Red Arch, Green Arch”
Katie Pell designed these complementary murals that pay homage to the flora and fauna that once flourished along San Pedro Creek. Stick with the warm colors in “Red Arch” or go cooler with “Green Arch,” or add some contrast to your feed by featuring both murals.
“De Todos Caminos Somos Todos Uno (From All Roads, We Are All One)”
Adriana Garcia’s largescale mural tells the story of how San Pedro Springs brought forth life, growth, and diversity in the San Antonio community. The left represents the west; the right represents the east. They come together (figuratively and literally) in the center of the mural.
Diana Kersey Ceramics
San Antonio-based ceramic artist Diana Kersey’s works adorn the bridges across the San Pedro Creek Culture Park’s first phase and reflect the historical nature of the street they belong to. Try to see if you can find all three to snap the whole set!
"Aqua"
Alex Rubio used his signature curvilinear style to depict the flowing waters of the historic San Pedro Creek. If you want to capture the essence of the creek in true San Antonio artistic style, this large piece is perfect for your feed.
Wildlife
A major goal of the culture park’s revival was to enhance and bring back the native ecosystem that once existed here before years of damage ushered them out. Now that the water and plants have been restored, animals have begun to return to the creek. See how many different types you can photograph—there are ducks, herons, turtles, frogs, and many species of fish.
Plaza de Fundación
On the far west edge of the linear park, you’ll find the magnificent Plaza de Fundación. There is no limit to the Instagram gold you can find in this plaza. Perhaps the bubbling manantial will catch your eye, or even the unprecedented beauty of the “Rain from the Heavens” public art piece, which depicts the stars that appeared on the night the creek was discovered. Be sure to get a close-up shot of the patterns found on the 12 Generational Benches in the plaza—they were designed by local visual artist Michael Menchaca. Stay a while and soak in the sights and sounds of the park, which serves as a tribute to our past, while honoring our future and everything we have to look forward to.
