San Pedro Creek Culture Park
Last week I attended the San Pedro Creek Culture Park Media Day. We were able to take a tour and hear all about the project’s history and how it all came together. I was able to take a few pictures of the before and cannot wait to see the after, when all is finished. 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, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park weaves public art and architectural design into historic preservation, flood control, water quality and ecosystem restoration.
In addition to creating a beautiful new linear park, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park returned the creek to a more natural state, which benefits the native flora and fauna, while also improving flood control. Through the project, the existing channels will be deepened and widened to contain the 100-year floodplain with the San Pedro Creek banks and will vastly improve water quality with the addition of bioswales and aquatic plants that remove pollutants from the waterway.
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.
The San Pedro Creek Culture Park will encompass 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. 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 – will debut with a full day of family-friendly programming – including children’s art and craft activities, historical presentations, live music and local food truck fare – from noon to 9 p.m., including a special evening Illumination Ceremony (presented by Bexar County) at 7:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 5, 2018.
Visitors will be able to navigate the San Pedro Creek Culture Park with the help of the 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. To learn more about the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, including grand opening details, event day street closures and planned programming following the grand opening celebration, visit SPCculturepark.com.
“Through the revitalization of San Pedro Creek, we are inviting people to connect with our community’s vibrant history and culture,” ~Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff
