Be River Proud

Parks & Trails

New Park Master Plans

Trueheart Natural Setting

Read more below about each project and details for the master plans.

Current Projects

  1. Hendrick Arnold Park 
  2. Mann's Crossing Park
  3. Trueheart Ranch 
  4. Espada Property

Master Plan Project information

HENDRICK ARNOLD NATURE PARK MASTER PLAN

BEXAR COUNTYBEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS

Nature Park Master Plan

2021 - Public Input, Master Plan, Graphics, and Cost Analysis

Completion Dates: Prop. 9/21 | Actual 9/21

Terra Design Group, Inc. was Prime Consultant

Project Manager: Marc Zak

Project Principal / Landscape Architect: Walter Heard

Project Owner’s Name and Name of Representative:

Owner - San Antonio River Authority

Owner’s Day-to-Day Representative - Kristen Hansen

MANN’S CROSSING BICYCLE PARK MASTER PLAN

BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS

Nature Park Master Plan

2021 - Public Input, Master Plan, Graphics, and Cost Analysis

Completion Dates: Prop. 10/8 • Actual 10/8

Terra Design Group, Inc. was Prime Consultant

Project Manager: Marc Zak

Project Principal / Landscape Architect: Walter Heard

Project Owner’s Name and Name of Representative:

Owner - San Antonio River Authority

Owner’s Day-to-Day Representative - Kristen Hansen

TRUEHEART RANCH NATURE PARK MASTER PLAN

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Nature Park Master Plan

2021 - Public Input, Master Plan, Graphics, and Cost Analysis

Completion Dates: Prop. 6/22

Terra Design Group, Inc. was Prime Consultant

Project Manager: Marc Zak

Project Principal / Landscape Architect: Walter Heard

Project Owner’s Name and Name of Representative:

Owner - San Antonio River Authority

Owner’s Day-to-Day Representative - Kristen Hansen

ESPADA PROPERTY

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Nature Park Master Plan

Currently undergoing Public Input, Master Planning, Graphics and Cost Analysis

Completion date- 6/23

Dunaway is Prime Consultant

Project Manager: Bryan Mask

Project Principal / Landscape Architect: Bryan Mask

Owner- San Antonio River Authority and Texas A&M University – San Antonio

Owner’s Day-to-Day Representative - Chris Giambernardi

 

 

 

Hendrick Arnold Master Plan Feb 2022
Hendrick Arnold Park
Master Plan

Hendrick Arnold Nature Park contains 74 acres of riparian woodland that fronts on the Medina River. The site, with the exception of the creek bank, was extensively mined for gravel. The mining ended in 1940 allowing riparian growth to cover the site creating one of the few remaining woodland creeks properties in Bexar County. The San Antonio River Authority purchased the property with plans to develop it as a nature interpretive and educational park.  This master planning effort is the first step toward a comprehensive long-range visioning process to identify areas for preservation and interpretation while preserving as much of the site as possible.

Four alternative concepts were developed utilizing a workshop process to establish priorities, develop concepts, and build consensus. These plans were presented at a public meeting and ranking was developed for features to be included in the master plan and also to set priorities for the development of these features. The park should have a number of management zones including a river / riparian zone, a forest and wildlife zone and an activity zone.  Within each of these zones, different maintenance, management, and improvement guidelines and levels were recommended.

From this process ideas from all four master plan concepts were brought together as the preferred Hendrick Arnold Nature Park Master Plan which included the following elements:

Park main gateway

Internal roadway and parking

Group camping

Trail heads with restrooms

Picnic areas

Multipurpose trail

Nature Playground

Equestrian trail

Interpretation

Interpretive trail

Outdoor classroom

Scenic overlooks

Equestrian staging facility

Bird watching stations

RV parking River boating access points

 

Hendrick Arnold Master Plan Feb 2022
Hendrick Arnold Park Observation Tower Final concept
Bird blind elevation architectural drawing.
Manns Crossing Master Plan Feb 2022
Mann's Crossing Park
Master Plan

Manns Crossing Park contains 88 total acres, 31 acres of nonoperational mining and 57 acres riparian woodland that fronts on the Medina River. The park site was the location of the Ron Pucek’s Living Waters Catfish Farm that was closed in 2000 when the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) purchased the property. In 2013 the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) acquired the property with plans to develop it as a recreational and educational park. 

The planning process began with identifying and meeting with stakeholders that currently use the park and access the river. The Southeast Independent School District was also included in these conversation because of the location of their administrative and school campus adjacent to the north side of the park. These groups helped identify the various recreational and educational opportunities the development of the park could provide.  Three alternative plans were developed utilizing a workshop process to establish priorities, refi ne concepts, and build consensus. From this process ideas for the three master plan concepts were brought together as the preferred Mann’s Crossing Park Master Plan. The following is a list of the preferred facilities that are included in the park plan.

Park main gateway

Internal roadway and parking

Two wilderness campgrounds

Trail heads with restrooms

Nature themed playground

Multipurpose pedestrian trail

Bird watching stations

Trail connection to school

Picnic areas

Off-road bike trail

Historic interpretation

Skill development bike trail

Outdoor classroom

Scenic overlooks

River fishing access points

River boating access points

 

Manns Crossing Master Plan Feb 2022
Manns Crossing Gateway architectural drawing.
Mann's Crossing Shelter depicts restroom area and signage.
Mile marker architectural drawing depicting running man and bicyclist along the trail.
Mann's Crossing Park Wayfinding tool shows several people observing signage at park.
Trueheart Ranch Master Plan Feb 2022
Trueheart Ranch
Master Plan

Trueheart Ranch Nature Park contains 351 acres pecan orchards, livestock grazing and riparian woodland that fronts on the San Antonio River. The property was purchased by James and Petra Trueheart and developed in 1848 for agricultural and irrigation purposes.  The Trueheart’s constructed a two-story house of rock and stucco to and they referred to it a “Casa Vieja” [“Old House”]. This house still remains in restored condition on the site. The master plan calls for this house to become the center of all activities proposed for the site.

This master planning effort is the first step toward a comprehensive long-range visioning process to identify areas for preservation, restoration, interpretation, and recreation preserving as much of the site as possible. The planning process began with identifying and meeting with stakeholders that currently use the park and access the river. Discussions with the stakeholders provided the planning team with great insight to the character of the site. Two alternative concepts were developed utilizing a workshop process to establish priorities, develop concepts, and build consensus. These plans were presented at a public meeting and ranking was developed for features to be included in the master plan and also to set priorities for the future development of these features.

Activities include the following:    

Park campus 

Equestrian staging facility

Three amenity campgrounds

RV parking

Two wilderness campgrounds

Internal roadway and parking

Two primitive campgrounds

Trail heads with restrooms

Group camping

Multipurpose trail

Picnic and playground areas

Acequia trail

Historic interpretation

Equestrian trail

Restoration and adaptive reuse

Scenic overlooks

Outdoor classroom

Bird watching stations

Blackland prairie restoration

River fishing access points

Trueheart Ranch Master Plan Feb 2022
People surround Trueheart Ranch courtyard view.
Trueheart Ranch Park vehicle entry.
Restored Trueheart Ranch main house: Casa Vieja.
River basin along proposed trueheart ranch property.
Events Center filled with round tables chairs and people.
Full Trueheart Ranch Master Plan
Espada Land Tract Map
Espada Property
Master Plan

The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) and Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) will be working together on a recreational and environmental collaboration along the historic San Antonio River. The property, known as the Espada Tract or Property, is located on 380 acres of land on the South Side of San Antonio.

The property, located south of Mission Espada, was donated to the River Authority and A&M-SA by The TJX Companies, Inc., the leading off-price apparel, and home fashions retailer in the U.S. and worldwide, after acquiring acreage for a T.J. Maxx Distribution Center on the South Side of San Antonio. TJX committed to donating 15 to 20 acres of land to the Southside Independent School District for construction of a school, as well as the donation of the Espada Property.

The Espada Property protects the scenic open space views along 2.2 miles of the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trail System, including 1.6 miles along the San Antonio River, surrounding 40-acres around Cassin Lake. This trail system plays a significant role in linking the Median River Greenway System to the San Antonio River Walk and Mission Reach trails, which allow the community to hike or bike from Brackenridge Park to Medina River Natural Area.

The partnership allows for the character of the area to remain, and a chance to restore the area with native shrubland and riparian bottomland forest areas throughout the property, which serve as refuge for resident and migratory wildlife. Plans for the property will be introduced through a master planning process, managed by Dunaway, which will include input from the community.

Proposed plans include a learning center managed by A&M-SA, which will provide an outdoor nature and biology research opportunity for faculty and students. The River Authority will handle operation and maintenance of the property, including Espada dam and Cassin Lake. Inclusion of park amenities will also be considered and developed through the master planning process

This project is currently undergoing public input, master planning, and cost analysis. The next public meeting will be:

Thursday, May 4th, 2023

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

San Antonio River Authority's Mission Reach Operation Center (MROC) 

8510 Mission Parkway, San Antonio, TX 

Espada Tract Aerial View
Espada Property History Signage
Sign that outlines next steps for the Espada Property
Next Espada Property Public Meeting takes place on Thursday February 9th, 2023
Questions?

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