After nearly a decade of transformation, it’s time to celebrate the rebirth of one of San Antonio’s most important waterways — and you’re invited to the party!
The San Antonio River Authority and Bexar County are thrilled to announce the Grand Finale Celebration of San Pedro Creek Culture Park. This family-friendly bash will honor the completion of 2.2 miles of beautifully reconstructed waterway, stretching from Santa Rosa Street all the way to its confluence with Apache Creek.
This occasion, a milestone for our city, is a reminder of where we’ve come from and a vibrant symbol of where we’re headed.
Flowing with Culture
Once a free-flowing waterway fed by the Edwards Aquifer, San Pedro Springs was vital for the earliest inhabitants of this region. As our city grew, so did the challenges — with homes built in floodplains and floods becoming a dangerous reality for many.
By the 1930s, concrete lined the creek to rush floodwater away from downtown as fast as possible, stripping the Creek of its natural ecology and reducing it to little more than a ditch. Over time, San Pedro Creek faded from memory.
Photographs remind us of the passing of days
For the past decade, the Culture Park has been uncovered and reconstructed block by block. Like most projects, the Creek had its unexpected challenges and discoveries, such as the uncovering of the St. James AME Church foundations, and it can be hard to remember what it was before. These photos help us showcase the progress that has been made. Today, San Pedro Creek Culture Park is a reimagined, restored, and resilient public space — a key piece of flood control infrastructure brimming with public art, history, native landscaping, and a gathering place for our community.
San Pedro Creek—Looking southeast from Santa Rosa Street before (Left) and after (Right)
San Pedro Creek—Looking south from Nueva Street before (Left) and after (Right)
San Pedro Creek—Looking north from Mustard Seed Plaza before (Left) and after (Right)
San Pedro Creek—Looking north from Camp Street before (Left) and after (Right)
Art Along the Creek
As you explore this newest section of San Pedro Creek Culture Park from El Paso Street to its confluence with Apache Creek, you’ll encounter a stunning collection of public art that celebrates the creek’s history, ecology, and cultural significance. Six incredible artists have brought their talents to this space, each adding to the story of San Pedro Creek.
At the El Paso Street Trailhead, you’ll be greeted by Diana Kersey’s Pedro Antonio, a large crayfish sculpture that honors this keystone species and welcomes park visitors to the creek. Further along, Elizabeth Carrington’s Spirit of San Pedro Creek features elegant metal screens laser cut with papel picado-inspired patterns, connecting past and present through traditional design.
Leticia Huerta brings bursts of color and nature to the park with San Antonio Flowers, a series of beautifully crafted tile designs that adorn concrete benches and celebrate native Texas wildflowers. San Antonio Poet Laureate Eddie Vega weaves words into the landscape with Pláticas with the Creek, three poems narrating the life and resurgence of the creek.
Adding to the beauty above, Rikkianne Van Kirk’s A Place of Origins is a graceful canopy at Mustard Seed Plaza decorated with delicate drawings that pay tribute to our local avian wildlife.
And towering above it all, Mark Reigelman’s Falling Water captures runoff from the highway in a giant, hand-shaped sculpture, filtering the water before it returns to San Pedro Creek — a striking fusion of art, infrastructure, and environmental care.
Come experience these works for yourself at our Grand Finale Celebration on May 15!
Save the Date
Mark your calendar — May 15th, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park Grand Finale Celebration is happening, and you won’t want to miss it!
Starting at 5:00 p.m., the celebration officially begins. Take a stroll through the newly completed park sections and see the transformation for yourself! While you explore, grab a bite to eat from local food trucks and visit local market vendors along Camp St.
Take a moment to connect with the creative minds behind the park’s public art during an engaging panel at 5:30PM at Mustard Seed Plaza featuring the artists whose works line the waterway. Afterwards, URBAN-15’s energizing live performance will bring music and dance to the creek’s banks.
As the sun sets, we’ll wrap up this unforgettable day by gathering at Mustard Seed Plaza for a special outdoor showing of Disney’s Encanto!
Beauty with a Purpose
At the San Antonio River Authority, our mission is to create and maintain safe, clean, and enjoyable waterways for generations to come. This grand finale isn’t an ending — it’s a new chapter in the story of San Pedro Creek, one that invites everyone to connect with their waterways in meaningful ways.
We know that our creeks and rivers hold countless personal stories, and we want to hear yours. Do you have a story, memory, or special moment along San Pedro Creek? Share it with us here and help celebrate the waterways that connect us all.
See you there!
