On May 5, 2018, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park was unveiled to the community with a grand opening celebration.

One year later, we look back at the exciting year of culture, art, nature — and purpose — that brought the people of Bexar County together.

The San Pedro Creek Culture Park honors the history of the sacred creek, improves flood control and water quality, and provides a respite for the community. Thousands of visitors have experienced the park that goes farther than just being beautiful.

The past year has also brought recognition to the hard work put into the revitalization of the vital creek. The San Pedro Creek Culture Park has received these awards since its grand opening:

• 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)
• Best of the City Ongoing Transformation Award – San Antonio Magazine
• American Advertising Awards (Gold – Best Online/Interactive Campaign and Bronze – Fiesta Medal)
• San Antonio Business Journal: Building San Antonio Awards – Best Government/Public Project
• American Public Works Association (APWA) – Project of the Year Award

You’re invited to experience the San Pedro Creek Culture Park too. Invite your friends and family to see where purpose meets beauty.

Download the mobile app before you go. Choose what you’re interested in — culture, art, nature, or all — and follow the map to visit the landmarks of your choosing. Learn about the San Pedro Creek Culture Park and its history and significance as you stroll along the creek bank at your own pace.

Just getting started

The first segment of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park opened in May 2018. The four-block section, spanning from North Santa Rosa Street to Houston Street, combines purpose with beauty and weaves public art and architectural design into historic preservation, flood control, water quality and ecosystem restoration. The incredible “Rain from the Heavens” installation in the Plaza de Fundación, the unforgettable murals and other artwork throughout the park, and the picturesque natural setting of the park is only the beginning.

The second segment of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park is currently under construction and set to open in 2021. With the same goals to restore the creek to its former significance, the second segment will include even more features that improve the ecosystem and provide a serene setting in bustling downtown San Antonio.

History brought to life

Work on the segment began a year ago, but was briefly stalled due to an exciting discovery. Archaeologists with Raba Kistner uncovered thousands of historical artifacts in the creek that served as the foundation of our city and county. Some of these artifacts date back to the Spanish colonial era, including an old foundation of a 1700s presidio that was unearthed along Dolorosa Street.

The awe-inspiring sights of the second segment will not disappoint. One highlight is the addition of a 250-foot cascading wall of water that will provide an audio and visual wonder, while simultaneously improving water quality by putting oxygen back in the water.

More art will adorn the paseos along the creek, a community gathering plaza will include a stage for performances and special events, and green spaces will provide spots to lounge in the beautiful San Antonio weather.

A downtown revival

The park is still in Phase 1 of production, with a total of four phases in the works for a total of 2.2 miles stretching from the flood tunnel inlet near Fox Tech High School to the point where Alazan and Apache creeks meet south of downtown near Interstate 35.

The segment now in construction (the second of three segments in Phase 1) is happening alongside an extensive downtown renewal. Other improvements to downtown will include the demolition of the old Bexar County Jail, and the development of a new UTSA cybersecurity campus, Texas Public Radio offices, and the renovation of the 1930s Alameda Theatre. This is all in addition to the monumental new Frost Tower, which is almost complete.

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.

The amount of fun things to do on a visit to San Antonio is endless—and the list is growing every day—but you may not have time to explore every corner of this vibrant city. If you’re only in the Alamo City for a day, here is how to make the best of your short time here.

Day 1

Morning

After your travels, you’re going to want to do something relaxing, but still go out and experience the city. The first stop on your list should be the San Pedro Creek Culture Park located downtown. Opened in May 2018, the linear park features art, history, and nature—it’s the perfect introduction to San Antonio. If you want to get some exercise, rent a bike at Blue Star Bike Shop and take a ride along the Mission Reach trail system. Grab lunch afterwards at Ocho, the picturesque bar in Hotel Havana.

Evening

If you plan far enough ahead, you can snag a ticket to a show at The Majestic Theatre and spend your evening watching a nationally touring performance like Wicked or soaking up some local flavor with a San Antonio group like Musical Bridges. The theatre is downtown, so you can grab dinner before or after at Bohanan’s Prime Steak and Seafood.

Night

Keep the San Antonio experience going with a visit to the bars, clubs, and live music venues on N. St. Mary’s Street. Try Paper Tiger for a concert, Tycoon Flats for a late-night meal, or just hop in from bar to bar down the street.

Day 2

Morning

It wouldn’t be a trip to San Antonio without some proper Mexican food, so start your day on the right foot with brunch at La Fonda on Main, which opened in 1932 and has been a favorite for Tex-Mex and interior (authentic) Mexican ever since.

Afternoon

Stop by one of San Antonio’s favorite lounges, The Esquire Tavern, for a hamburger and a beer. Fun fact: The Esquire opened in 1933 and boasts the longest wooden bar top in Texas. The restaurant is located on The Riverwalk, so you can walk off your meal by strolling along the San Antonio River, even popping in to Casa Rio for a frozen margarita if you desire.

With so much happening in the Alamo City, it makes sense that you want your four-legged friend to join in the excitement. San Antonio has a multitude of dog-friendly spots where you and your pup can enjoy our great city together.

Nature

Confluence Park

Located at the confluence between the San Antonio River and the San Pedro Creek, Confluence Park is a destination for learning and recreation. For eco-conscious San Antonians and their dogs, Confluence is a beautiful place to learn about conservation efforts along the San Antonio River.

San Pedro Creek Culture Park

San Antonio’s newest park, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park opened in May 2018 and celebrates the culture, art, and nature of the city we call home. The first phase of the linear park is open to the public now and features a paved creekside trail adorned with largescale murals and art pieces.

Salado Creek Greenway

Head east towards one of the city’s hidden gems: the Salado Creek Greenway. Stretching from I-35 to Southside Lions Park, the greenway has paved hiking trails that your furbaby will love. With more than 22 miles of trails, there’s always something new to explore in this picturesque part of town.

Food and Drink

The Cove

Not only does The Cove happily welcome dogs, they also serve sustainable, organic, and local food. With a playground for kids, live music events, and a large outdoor patio where furry friends can hang out with their best friend (that’s you!), The Cove has something for everyone.

The Friendly Spot

As an all-outdoors ice house, The Friendly Spot is a dog owner’s dream. Walk up to the bar and order from their wide selection of beer or tasty bar food, take a seat in their large yard, sit back, and relax with your furbaby.

Candlelight Coffeehouse

Dogs and brunch don’t usually go in the same sentence, but at Candlelight Coffeehouse, your pup is more than welcome on their expansive patio. Sip on a mimosa and enjoy Eggs Benedict on weekend mornings, or savor a glass of wine on a weekday evening—the options to go out on the town with your dog are endless.

Shopping

Dogs love to shop! These San Antonio shopping districts welcome your pups in their open areas and some shops may let your dog inside, but be sure to check before letting them inside the building.

The Pearl

You and your dog could easily spend all day at The Pearl, complete with shops that sell everything from books to clothes to flowers. Several public spaces throughout the former brewery are perfect for you and your dog to relax while taking a break from shopping the boutiques.

La Cantera

It would be an understatement to say people were excited when La Cantera announced they were dog-friendly. The open-air shopping center has everything you could need in a mall—from everyday shops to luxury retailers, your favorite quick service restaurants to upscale restaurants, and everything in between.

La Villita

 It’s not often you get to spend an afternoon in a place with as much history at La Villita. Founded in the 18^thcentury, La Villita has been a landmark of San Antonio for nearly 300 years. Today, the downtown shopping and arts district is home to “San Antonio flare and creative curiosity.” Get your pup excited because you’re going to find some really authentic treasures at La Villita.

The construction and revitalization of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park is a joint effort between many stakeholders across the city. It began as a partnership between Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, and the San Antonio River Authority to transform San Pedro Creek from a concrete-lined drainage ditch into a natural creek habitat and world-class culture park.

With construction headed by a joint venture between Sundt and Davila Construction, Inc., the design team consists of HDR Engineering, Muñoz & Company, Pape Dawson Engineering, Alamo Architects, and Ford, Powell, & Carson Architects.

Phase 1.1 opened on May 5, 2018 and is now open to the public. Construction on Phase 1.2 began in June of 2018. The construction progress is being tracked every step of the way to document the impactful improvements this project is making. Take a look at the evolution of the project so far.

Nueva North

Dolorosa South

Dolorosa North

Commerce South

Commerce North

Houston South

NOW OPEN IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO
First phase and segment opened to the public on May 5, 2018

SAN ANTONIO – The first segment of the much-anticipated San Pedro Creek Culture Park – a one-of- a-kind urban greenspace located on the western edge of downtown San Antonio – 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. Combining purpose with beauty, San Pedro Creek Culture Park weaves public art and architectural design into historic preservation, flood control, water
quality and ecosystem restoration.

“Through the revitalization of San Pedro Creek, we are inviting people to connect with our community’s vibrant history and culture,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. “Bexar County was founded along the banks of San Pedro Creek and the San Pedro Creek Culture Park celebrates and expresses the culture, history and natural qualities of Bexar County through its beautiful design and artwork.”

The first phase and segment of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park – stretching from the flood tunnel inlet at N. Santa Rosa Street near Fox Tech High School to Houston Street – was celebrated with a full day community event and evening illumination ceremony, which drew thousands to the paseos along the revitalized creek.

“The San Antonio River Authority gets a tremendous amount of joy bringing these types of projects to fruition for the community,” said San Antonio River Authority Board Chair Mike Lackey. “It’s been a challenging in terms of designing and constructing a linear park in the middle of downtown San Antonio but seeing the transformation of the Creek gives us the energy and excitement to continue working on these types of once-in- a-lifetime endeavors.”

Exemplifying beauty with a purpose, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park serves as vital infrastructure for a growing downtown. By increasing the depth and width of the existing channel, the project removes 30 acres from the 100-year flood plain, safely conveying floodwaters within the San Pedro Creek banks. The project also improves water quality in a highly urbanized segment of the downtown watershed through the use of low-impact development features, including bioswales and storm water interceptors. In addition to creating a more functional waterway, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park returns the creek to
a more natural state, benefitting the native flora and fauna.

Public art provides a beautiful backdrop to the restored creek, telling the story of our community through contemporary art and cultural programming. The first segment of the Culture Park features four tile murals designed by prominent San Antonio artists – Adriana Garcia, Katie Pell, Alex Rubio and Joe Lopez – that commemorate the rich and interweaving cultures that define San Antonio and Bexar County. Additional artwork commissions include storytelling through historical text and poetry by John Phillip Santos, ceramic artwork representing the historical nature of the nearby street names by Diana Kersey and colorful tiles by Michael Menchaca inspired by the people, culture and history of San Antonio.

“Bexar County has invested in many vital projects to improve the lives of our residents, but no other project has been more prominent and culturally meaningful than the creation of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park,” said Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo. “The vision of the Bexar County Commissioners Court to create a space where local citizens and visitors could learn and appreciate the roots of local heritage and culture is being realized with the opening of this first segment.”
Visitors can navigate the San Pedro Creek Culture Park with the help of a mobile app, which includes a variety of ways to learn about and interact with the creek. Available on Android and iOS, the app features a customizable 18-stop audio tour as well as extensive plant and animal lists for those who want to learn more about the native flora and fauna of the creek.

In total, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park encompasses a total of four phases, with three segments in the first phase. The second segment, which spans from Houston Street to Nueva Street is currently under construction. When the four phases are completed, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park will span 2.2 miles through downtown.

To learn more about the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, including planned programming along the Creek, visit SPCculturepark.com.

###

MEDIA CONTACT:
Monica Trevino-Ortega Anamaria Suescun-Fast
San Antonio River Authority The DeBerry Group
210-204- 7875 210-363- 2673

The construction and revitalization of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park is a joint effort between many stakeholders across the city. It began as a partnership between Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, and the San Antonio River Authority to transform San Pedro Creek from a concrete-lined drainage ditch into a natural creek habitat and world-class culture park.

With construction headed by a joint venture between Sundt and Davila Construction, Inc., the design team consists of HDR Engineering, Muñoz & Company, Pape Dawson Engineering, Alamo Architects, and Ford, Powell, & Carson Architects.

Construction on Phase 1, Segment 1 began in December of 2016 with a kick-off celebration of the entire improvements project. The completion of the first segment will be the first milestone in the project and will officially open part of the four-phase San Pedro Creek Culture Park to the public on May 5th, 2018.

The construction progress has been tracked every step of the way to document the impactful improvements this project is making. Take a look at the evolution of the project so far and join us for the grand opening in May.

Inlet to Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa to Inlet

Santa Rosa South

Martin North

Martin South

Travis North

Travis South

Houston North

The San Pedro Creek Culture Park is Flowing with Purpose. While the park is a beautiful escape for locals and visitors alike to take in the beauty of our city, it also provides a vital service to our city: flood control and water quality improvements.

As floods continue to ravage our state, the improvements made during the construction of the park were designed with safety in mind. These measures were a major priority of the project and will benefit the city for generations to come.

Bioswales A bioswale is a specially landscaped stormwater feature that soaks up and filters stormwater runoff from hard surfaces such as roofs, pavement, and parking lots. A bioswale is constructed with quick-draining soil and drainage layers to filter and clean stormwater and make it healthy and usable for the creek’s flora and fauna. All five of the bioswales along San Pedro Creek receive stormwater runoff from city streets, pavement, and parking lots. The native plants provide water quality and wildlife benefits.

Storm Water Interceptors These specialized mechanical devices are installed at some of the storm water inlets to capture floating trash and debris before it gets into the creek.

Aquatic Plantings Purposefully chosen plants are planted throughout the water banks to shade water surface, help to filter the creek’s water, serve as a habitat for aquatic organisms, and overall improve the water quality.

The San Pedro Creek Culture Park is beautiful, but it’s so much more than that. Flowing with Purpose, the park is working to keep our water—and our people—safe from flooding and pollution.

• More than 40,000 square feet of grasses
• More than 18,000 square feet of ground cover
• 133 shade trees
• 47 ornamental trees
• 849 shrubs
• 291 vines
• 2,426 perennials
• 3 rebuilt and restored bridges with tile inserts on railings and artwork by Diana Kersey
• 1 channel gate and gatehouse
• 60,000 linear feet of new walls