Flowing with Purpose
The San Pedro Creek Culture Park is a multi-phased, joint project among Bexar County, the San Antonio River Authority and the City of San Antonio. The multi-year project is transforming the San Pedro Creek into a world-class linear park, brimming with public art, honoring the Creek’s history and importance to the region, and creating a destination space in the heart of San Antonio.
San Pedro Creek can be considered the birthplace of the city, for it was here that the first dwellers and future generations of indigenous people and settlers founded what would become San Antonio, Texas. Over the years, this vital water source and ecosystem was overwhelmed by progress and largely forgotten.
In the early 2000s, with a better understanding of how the small but mighty creek was not the driving factor in, but the solution to flood mitigation, the renovation and rejuvenation of San Pedro Creek took shape. Thus was born the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, a hard-working stretch of the original waterway that serves not only as an enrichment space, but a flood control, water quality and ecosystem restoration project as well.
San Pedro Creek Culture Park is an investment in history, art, and nature, and also serves as an economic development catalyst for the community. Along its original banks, now the Western edge of Downtown San Antonio, are cultural landmarks of the city’s growth. By investing in these areas, the project will not only shine a light on these historically significant places and spaces, it creates an economic driver for downtown and the people who live and work there.
The innovative engineering and architecture incorporates low-impact design elements, and employ the most current best-practice standards for water control and quality management. This practice, among other developments in the city, continue to demonstrate San Antonio’s forward-thinking approach to responsible development, and high building standards.
Culture & Connectivity Features
Flowing with Culture
- 12,793 linear feet of paseos (walkways) – all ADA accessible
- 53 interpretive signs telling the history of the San Pedro Creek
- 2,930 linear feet of historic wall preserved
- 68 benches to provide several places of respite for people along the creek
- 2 boardwalks overlook to relax and enjoy art and view
- Plaza de Fundación, St. James AMEC Culture Crossing, and Mustard Seed Park provide space for community performances and special events
Flowing with Art
- 1 art installation (metal screening) around flood bypass tunnel inlet – depicting the night sky in 1718
- 4 tile murals by local artists – Katie Pell, Alex Rubio, Joe Lopez and Adriana Garcia – that tell the story of how San Pedro Creek brought forth life, growth and diversity in our community
- 5 locations of historical text and poetry by John Phillip Santos etched in the limestone walls along the creek
- 16 colorful tile designs by Michael Menchaca commemorating the people, culture and history of our community that can be seen throughout the creek on benches and artistic design accents
- 4 restored bridges with ceramic artwork by Diana Kersey depicting the stories behind the street names
- 2 locations of text etched in the limestone walls along the creek.
Art Features
Art Features
Flowing with Art
- 1 art installation (metal screening) around flood bypass tunnel inlet – depicting the night sky in 1718
- 4 tile murals by local artists – Katie Pell, Alex Rubio, Joe Lopez and Adriana Garcia – that tell the story of how San Pedro Creek brought forth life, growth and diversity in our community
- 5 locations of historical text and poetry by John Phillip Santos etched in the limestone walls along the creek
- 16 colorful tile designs by Michael Menchaca commemorating the people, culture and history of our community that can be seen throughout the creek on benches and artistic design accents
- 4 restored bridges with ceramic artwork by Diana Kersey depicting the stories behind the street names
- 2 locations of text etched in the limestone walls along the creek.
Nature
Features
Flowing with Nature
- 1,070 native aquatic plants
- 267 shade trees
- 351 ornamental trees
- 1400 shrubs
- 1903 vines
- 5,758 perennials
- More than 318,000 square feet of grasses
- More than 22,400 square feet of ground cover
- More than 16,200 square feet of aquatic planting
Flowing with Purpose
- 3 channel gates and gatehouse
- 13,603 linear feet of new walls
- 9 bioswales that help filter water to improve water quality
- 9 trash collector systems at inlets to separate and trap trash, debris, sediment and hydrocarbons from storm water runoff
- 4 waterfalls and 1 acequia, located between Houston Street and Travis Street on the west bank, to help oxygenate the water and help keep water flowing along the creek
Water
Quality
Features
Water Quality
Features
Flowing with Purpose
- 3 channel gates and gatehouse
- 13,603 linear feet of new walls
- 9 bioswales that help filter water to improve water quality
- 9 trash collector systems at inlets to separate and trap trash, debris, sediment and hydrocarbons from storm water runoff
- 4 waterfalls and 1 acequia, located between Houston Street and Travis Street on the west bank, to help oxygenate the water and help keep water flowing along the creek
Flowing with Excellence
San Pedro Creek Culture Park is a testament to the combined dedication and excellence our partners and experts have brought to the community. We are honored to have been recognized for the following awards and recognition.
2018
- TxA Citation of Honor Award
- ENR Best Project
- Award – Landscape
Mayor’s Choice Award – Best Project - ACEC Texas Engineering Excellence Award – Water and Wastewater Gold Medal Grand Award Winner (1 of 16)
2019
- Best of the City Ongoing Transformation Award – San Antonio Magazine
- American Public Works Association – Public Works Project of the Year – Environment Division
- Public Art Network 2019 Year in Review Award – De Todos Caminos Somos Todos Uno by Adriana Garcia
- American Advertising Awards (Addy’s)
- Gold – Best Online/Interactive Campaign
- Bronze – FIESTA Medal
Park News
Published by ksat.com Written by: Ben Spicer, Digital Journalist Construction on second part of phase 1 to be finished March 2021 SAN …
Published by expressnews.com Written by: Liz Teitz, Staff writer Japanese drummers and samba and flamenco dancers took the stage Saturday night in …
Published by expressnews.com Written by: Dylan McGuinness, Staff writer Bexar County on Tuesday advanced its ambitious plan to revitalize San Pedro Creek, …
Flowing
towards the
Future
The first segment of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park officially debuted to the public on Saturday, May 5, 2018. The world-class linear park is the result of a joint effort by Bexar County, the San Antonio River Authority and the City of San Antonio to transform San Pedro Creek into a restored natural creek habitat and greenspace. In total, San Pedro Creek Culture Park will encompass four phases, with three segments in Phase 1.
About the San Antonio River Authority
The San Pedro Creek Culture Park is managed by the San Antonio River Authority, stewards of 3,658 square miles of waterways, river basins and regional areas throughout South Texas including Bexar, Wilson, Karnes and Goliad Counties. Created in 1937, the San Antonio River Authority’s Just Cause is: To harmonize the needs of people and nature through our stewardship of rivers and land.
