The city of New Braunfels is grappling with a surge in dangerous activities along the Guadalupe River near the Faust Street Bridge, where individuals have been seen trespassing on an abandoned industrial building to jump into the river. During a recent city council meeting, Deputy City Manager Jordan Matney presented a disturbing trend showing people climbing onto the structure and leaping from various heights into the water, endangering themselves and others. As reported by FOX San Antonio, Matney highlighted the alarming frequency of such occurrences, "This is just constant, especially on the weekends," adding, "All day long."
The mix of city, state, and private property ownership in the area complicates enforcement efforts, as the spot doesn't receive the same level of surveillance as other parks in New Braunfels. Additionally, as detailed in an interview acquired by FOX San Antonio, there's been an exacerbation of vandalism, littering, and trespassing issues, with river levels reduced due to drought making the jumps even more perilous. "There's only a small area where you can land safely at this point in the water. You miss that area and bad things are gonna happen," warned Matney. Responders also face challenges due to rough terrain along the shores, complicating rescue and response efforts.
According to FOX San Antonio, calls for service in this area are nearly doubling annually, with 98 calls recorded by the end of June in 2024 alone. This prompts concerns that this year might surpass the previous year's total of calls. Corresponding to MySanAntonio's reports, Matney said, "I think we will far surpass 2023 in calls for service this year." This pattern indicates an urgent need for interventions to prevent further safety risks.
Potential solutions have been discussed, including the idea of erecting fencing, though council members expressed concerns about the efficacy of such barriers. Councilman Christopher Willis addressed his fellow members, noting the persistence of those accessing the site: "It's not gonna be cheap but it'll be for the best of the individuals down there," as reported by FOX San Antonio. The city has encountered difficulties securing the building, with previous efforts to block access consistently being thwarted.
At present, no definitive action has been taken by the New Braunfels City Council, although the installation of a chain-link fence was proposed and is under consideration. Matney believes that a barrier could at least facilitate the enforcement of no-trespassing laws, saying, "I do believe that if a fence is in place, that we will have some vandalism, but at that point, it would be a clear 'no trespassing,'" according to MySanAntonio. With the city seeking to address these safety risks head-on, further council discussions and community input will be critical in finding a sustainable and effective solution.
