At the confluence of the San Antonio River lies Brackenridge Park, a once postcard-worthy destination with a rich heritage obscured by years of neglect.
Reimagining cultural landscapes requires balancing historic preservation, ecological health, and visitor experience. Rather than opting for piecemeal rehabilitation as originally proposed by the city, SWA recommended a comprehensive reinterpretation of the entire site, aiming to weave together the park’s cultural, historical, and ecological narratives.
Central to this goal is reinvigorating the water story. The design reinterprets the river’s original flow, reactivates a 19th-century acequia and raceway, and highlights historic structures and their functions. By removing invasive species, reducing hardscape, and stabilizing riverbeds with native plantings, the project aims to restore the local ecosystem and cultural landscape. New pedestrian connections improve safety, while a Cultural Trail and plaza celebrate the site’s heritage.
SWA communicated extensively with various stakeholders, including the Office of Historic Preservation, Indigenous groups, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Texas Historical Commission, the San Antonio River Authority, and the public. To shape a historic park that honors the past, serves present communities, and safeguards ecological futures within a single, cohesive design, SWA thoughtfully revised plans to accommodate stakeholder preferences and regulatory requirements.
Brackenridge Park is positioned within the greater San Antonio River Vision Plan, along with Spirit Reach and Miraflores.
Miraflores
Miraflores Park, crafted in the early 20th century by Dr. Aureliano Urrutia, a notable surgeon and Latino immigrant, stands as a vital historic landmark along the San Antonio River. Years of deterioration have obscured the park’s cultural significance, leading to its confusion with a cemetery and presenting financial and operational challenges to rehabilitatio...
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
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San Antonio Spirit Reach
San Antonio’s river trail system has long stood incomplete, its northern reach at Brackenridge Park abruptly halted by a patchwork of private lands. Recognizing the waterway’s cultural significance, landowners forged an unprecedented partnership, opening sections of their properties for public benefit. The 162-acre Spirit Reach Vision Plan allows v...
Katy Trail
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