City Of San Antonio: City To Delay Vote On Brackenridge Trees, Finish The Design Of Historic Restoration In The Park

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

CONTACT: Laura Mayes; (210) 207-1337
laura.mayes@sanantonio.gov

Connie Swann; (210) 207-6122
connie.swann@sanantonio.gov

SAN ANTONIO (February 22, 2022) – The City of San Antonio will postpone consideration by the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) of a plan to remove some trees at Brackenridge Park, while the City and its consultants complete the design work for the 2017 Bond Project. In the meantime, the City will work with the Texas Historical Commission and reengage a committee of Brackenridge Park stakeholders to ensure that historic structures in the park are adequately protected and the removal of heritage trees is minimized.

“No one wants to remove heritage trees, especially from a historic City park, but if the removal ultimately remains necessary to protect the public and historic structures at Brackenridge, I want the community to understand the full context of the project,” said City Manager Erik Walsh. “So I have directed staff to pause consideration by the HDRC, which has dominated the conversation and distracted from the broader benefits of the restoration work, while we complete the design and work with our partners and stakeholders.”

As a precautionary measure, the Lambert Beach (Phase I) project area, on the western side of the river, will be fenced off to restrict public access due to degrading conditions in this area of the park, which includes the historic river walls.

In 2017, voters approved $7.75 million for improvements to Brackenridge Park, including the historic river walls and structures. The project will be completed in two phases and specifically includes:

• Restoration of 1920s river walls on Lambert Beach (Phase 1)
• Rehabilitation of the historic acequia and 1776 Upper Labor Diversion Dam (Phase 2) and
• Stabilization of the 1870s Pumphouse and Waterworks channel (Phase 2)

Brackenridge Park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated State Antiquities Landmark and City of San Antonio Historic Landmark. Therefore, the 2017 Bond Project is subject to review by the Texas Historical Commission and US Army Corps of Engineers for environmental impacts including impacts to designated cultural resources.

The project team will seek HDRC approval this spring or summer for the final design of Lambert Beach (Phase 1) and conceptual design of the Pumphouse and Upper Labor (Phase 2). Given the historic and cultural significance of the park, the Parks & Recreation Department is reconstituting a group of stakeholders that has historically advised the City on Brackenridge Park improvements. The committee will include park tenants, adjacent neighborhood associations, and regulatory agencies to create a forum for guiding park development and information sharing. This committee will convene prior to the City project team returning to HDRC.

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.