San Pedro Creek Culture Park - A Four-Phase Project
The San Pedro Creek Culture Park will encompass a total of four phases, including three segments in Phase 1. Phase 1, segment 1 (N. Santa rosa St. – Houston St.) was completed in May 2018. The final 2 segments of Phase 1 were completed in October 2022. Phases 2, 3, and 4 are currently under construction, spanning from El Paso Street to IH-35.
In total, construction on the San Pedro Creek Culture Park will add more than 60,000 linear feet of new walls, replace eight street bridges and all associated utilities while adding four miles of walking trails and 11 acres of landscaping.
Once fully complete, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park is expected to spur a $1.5 billion economic impact by creating 2,100 new housing units, 1,428 new downtown employees, 7,300 new downtown residents, a 150 percent increase in new property value and $227 million in ad valorem tax revenues.
When the four phases are completed, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park will span 2.2 miles through downtown, beginning at IH-35 at the flood tunnel inlet at Santa Rosa Street and ending at the confluence of the Alazán and Apache Creeks at IH-35 to the south.
Houston street to Nueva Street – COMPLETE
Completed in 2022, Phase 1.2 features three prominent attractions. The first is a Performance Plaza that welcomes performance artists of all kinds to use the park as their creative stage. Adjacent to the famous Alameda Theater, the plan is to partner with the historic performance venue on outdoor events. When not in use, the plaza will become an open space for people to sit and enjoy their surroundings.
The second major attraction of this phase is a beautiful greenspace where park visitors can lounge and enjoy the weather with a book or picnic basket. Facing a cascading wall of water, the area is picturesque and serene.
The third major attraction is a tremendous mural composed of five pieces behind the Spanish Governors’ Palace. Similar to the murals in Phase 1.1, is speaks to the vibrant culture of the park and its rich history.
North Santa Rosa Street to Houston Street – COMPLETE
As of May 5, 2018, the first segment (N. Santa Rosa St. – Houston St.) was opened to the public. This portion of the Culture Park begins with the beautiful Tunnel Inlet where you’ll find the Plaza de Fundación and its incredible “Rain from the Heavens” public art installment. Custom tile work adorns the surrounding 12 Generational Benches, as well as various features throughout the park including commissioned murals and other art pieces that represent the history and culture of this historic creek.
The next 2 segments of Phase 1 were completed in 2022. Phase 1.2 features three prominent attractions. The first is adjacent to the famous Alameda Theater and is now named St. James A.M.E.C. Cultural Crossing. This area recognizes and celebrates an archaeological site that was founded in early 2020. In this area, construction activities uncovered a series of foundations near the southwest corner of the W. Houston and Camaron Street intersection. Through archival research, four components were identified to be associated with the foundations: Klemcke/Menger Soapworks, St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Alamo Icehouse, and Alamo Icehouse & Brewery.
The second major attraction of this phase is a beautiful area between Houston St. and Commerce St. and is home to STREAM. STREAM merges the music of San Antonio with the flow of San Pedro Creek. When a sound is made into the microphone sculpture, it becomes visualized as animated light along a 250’ waterfall in real time. While the sculpture is dormant, the lights are activated by the broadcast signal from Texas Public Radio.
Finally, the third major attraction in Phase 1.2 is a tremendous mural, La Gloriosa Historia de San Pedro Creek On My Mind: A Story in Five Episodes by local artists Kathy & Lionel Sosa is composed of five pieces behind the Spanish Governors’ Palace. Similar to the murals in Phase 1.1, it speaks to the vibrant culture of the park and its rich history. Just south of the 5 panel murals, rests the new UTSA School of Data Science that welcomes hundreds of students enrolled in five data science graduate programs.
Nueva Street to Cesar Chavez Street – COMPLETE
Phase 1.3 continues from Nueva St. to Cesar Chavez, and its primary focus is infrastructure updates. The design of this phase complements the new federal courthouse just north of Nueva Street while working them to install a bioretention pond that treats runoff from the courthouse property before it enters the creek.
Guadalupe Street to Alamo Street – COMPLETE
This phase is complete and open to the public. This area of the cultural park showcases the nature aspect with native plants and trees. Starting at Guadalupe Street, there is tile work by Leticia Huerta, poetry art by Eddie Vega, and a developed shade structure by artist Rikkianne Van Kirk. On either side of the shade structure just north of Camp St. and near Ruby City, there are viewing areas north and south on the creek.
Alamo Street to Confluence w/ Apache Creek – IN CONSTRUCTION
This phase will be completed Summer of 2024. By Alamo Street there will be restrooms and a floodgate. In Spring of 2022, the River Authority in partnership with Bexar County went out looking for an artist to design a functional artwork for the third phase of San Pedro Creek Culture Park. This artwork will demonstrate water quality improvements, one of the main goals of Culture Park, by capturing run off from the Interstate 35 bridge overpass. The artwork will be located near the confluence of San Pedro and Apache Creeks, where the Culture Park meets an existing trail leading to the San Antonio River. This artwork is currently being developed by Mark Reigelman, an artist that has exhibited work in public sites, galleries, and museums across the country. This amazing piece of art will hopefully be ready in the later part of 2024.
Cesar Chavez Street to Guadalupe Street – COMPLETE
Phase 4.1 is complete and open to the public along with Phase 2. From Cesar Chavez Blvd to El Paso St, pedestrians are guided to take a small detour on street level and take Flores St. to El Paso St. to continue the San Pedro Creek Cultural Park tour. There are directional signs to help guide those that are walking along the creek.
Starting at El Paso St. and heading south there is a parking lot and the El Paso Trailhead with art by Diana Kersey. In Phase 4, you will also find decorative metal screens by artist Elizabeth Carrington who was inspired by how San Pedro Culture Park is intended to be a vital infrastructure for the growing downtown and the emphasis on humans, flora and fauna ‘sharing the trail’. More tile work by Leticia Huerta continues down the creek into Phase 2 at Guadalupe St. The opening from the tunnel is also in this phase.
In the Summer of 2024, a celebration of all phases will be held in partnership with Bexar County and the City of San Antonio. Future phases of restoration south of the confluence of San Pedro Creek and Apache Creek trails are included as part of the Westside Creeks Restoration Project. To learn more about that project, visit Home | Westside Creeks Restoration Project
Construction Progress Photos
Flood Mitigation
By deepening and widening the existing channel and replacing the eight street bridges, the project will contain 100-year floodplain within the San Pedro Creek banks.
Economic Development
The project will catalyze a $1.5 billion economic impact by creating 2,100 new housing units, 1,428 new downtown employees, 7,300 new downtown residents, 150% increase in new property value and $225 million in ad valorem tax revenue.
Water Quality
Through the use of low-impact development features including bioswales, aquatic plantings and the removal of floatables, the project will advance the water quality and ensure the sustainability of our biotic habitats.
Cultural Linkages
The Project will celebrate and express the culture, history and natural qualities of Bexar County through a series of temporary and permanent artworks, artistic treatments, interpretative signage, performances and interactive exhibits.
Partners
Bexar County is the primary funder of the San Pedro Creek Improvements Project and the San Antonio River Authority is the project manager for the project. The San Antonio River Authority will have oversight and maintenance responsibility as project phases are complete.
Project Manager
The San Antonio River Authority is the project manager for the project.
Project Funder
Bexar County is the primary funder of the San Pedro Creek Improvements Project.
Project Partner
City of San Antonio
Consultant Team
Lead Civil Engineer
Prime and Lead Structural and Hydrologic Engineer
Consulting Landscape Architect
Construction Team
Architects
Phase 1.1, 1.2
Phase 1.3, 2
Phase 1.3, 2
