What inspired you to pursue a career focused on river recreation and stewardship?
Since I got out of college, I’ve always worked near water. I worked for the Georgia Aquarium and I worked along the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta—water has just always been in my life. I grew up outside hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, biking—so having a career where I get to be outdoors, on the river, and share those experiences with others is just really awesome.
Can you share a memorable experience from your time working along the San Antonio River?
Yes, and I may tell this story too many times! One of my favorite memories is when we took former Spur and Olympian Manu Ginobili kayaking down the Mission Reach. He was incredibly inquisitive and genuinely interested in the area. At one point, I saw him reach his whole arm down into the water to grab a piece of trash—purely because he wanted to leave the river better than he found it. Seeing someone of his stature embody stewardship in such a real way was powerful.
What does a “typical” day look like for the recreation team?
There aren’t a lot of typical days! I just got back from supporting a bicycle tour on the Mission Reach—so I’m in shorts and colorful socks right now. Some days we’re running events, sometimes we’re supporting others’ events, sometimes we’re in the office. I do lead the Recreation & Events team, so there’s admin work too—but I’m still always drawn to being outside. I’ll even take my laptop out behind the office and knock out work in the sun near the squirrels.
How do you balance the needs of recreational users with environmental conservation efforts?
We weave stewardship into everything—from our largest public events with thousands of attendees down to small hikes and programs. For example, the bike tour I supported today was focused on bats and pollinators. We connected what people were seeing on the trails to the ecological restoration work out there. We try to make sure that no matter what fun activity someone attends, there’s also a connection back to nature and the health of the river.
What do you see for the future of river recreation in San Antonio?
We’re small—just four people—but, along with help from partners like the City of San Antonio and Black Outside, we get a lot done. I’d love to grow the team and expand what we can offer, but we’re also limited by the calendar; there are only so many weekends you can program. Ultimately, we hope that more people across all four counties we serve get outside, explore our parks, and discover what being along the river can mean for them—whether that’s biking, hiking, walking the dog, or just sitting by the water and reading a book.
Want to experience river recreation for yourself? Check out our events calendar at sariverauthority.org. Our next major event is River of Lights on December 13 — join us for a festive night along the San Antonio River’s Museum Reach!
The mighty Recreation team at River of Lights festival!
Today’s blog was contributed by Michael Gramley, Recreation Superintendent for the San Antonio River Authority.
The “My River POV” series provides readers the opportunity to learn about the unique insights and experiences of the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) staff and their connection to the San Antonio River in hopes of inspiring stewardship of area creeks and rivers.
