San Antonio's oldest public park, San Pedro Springs Park, is on the cusp of receiving a community-driven face-lift, with $3.5 million earmarked for its rehabilitation. The idyllic expanse of land, steeped in history dating back to 9000 B.C., frequented by the Payaya natives and later appointed a public space by the Spanish government in 1729, now looks to its visitors for future enhancements.
Recently, parkgoers like Maira Chavez expressed their desires for new additions such as paths, sidewalks, and well-lit restrooms through the interactive board game, Sueños. "We would love some paths and side trails because we could utilize that instead of … going where all the rest of the people are walking," Chavez told the San Antonio Report. Her opinion, along with those from various community members, is part of a broader effort to incorporate public opinion into the park’s development plans.
Among the suite of envisaged developments, tree mitigation has been allocated $250,000. Paths, lighting, and a pavilion were prioritized by Chavez, while amenities such as a skate park and playscape were less favored, reflective of her personal uses for the park. This prioritization is a key outcome of the Sueños game, which allows participants to use wooden tokens to signify what they believe to be worth the taxpayer's dime.
The game represents a noteworthy approach to civic engagement, designed by Sarah Woolsey, executive director of the placemaking nonprofit Impact Guild, and Ashley Bird of Blooming with Birdie. They intend to compile the park users’ priorities, or "los sueños," to guide the upgrades. "Everyone has a story at San Pedro Springs Park," Bird said, emphasizing the park's personal significance to many in San Antonio, regardless of how frequently they visit.
Native American heritage, too, has been a point of consideration, with the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions advocating for interpretive signage to acknowledge the park's profound cultural and historical significance. "I think that it’s important that San Pedro [Park] acknowledge the past there at that park," Isaac “Papa Bear” Alvarez Cardenas said in the San Antonio Report.
On the political front, District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur has been instrumental in directing funds toward the project and is seeking at least 1,000 community inputs on the park plan. To galvanize local support and ensure a robust upgrade blueprint, a partnership with San Antonio College is also being explored, potentially featuring a strategic pedestrian footbridge. San Pedro Springs Park’s future, enriched by public counsel and historic reverence, is poised to honor community wishes in its modern incarnation.
Residents can provide their input by engaging with the Sueños board game during an upcoming family-friendly event or by completing an online survey until July 31. Further details are accessible through the park’s website.
