11/04/2010
Article: "Artifacts uncovered at Brackenridge Park"
Work on a new hike and bike path by the San Antonio River has uncovered a collection of historic wonders, including a woodworking tool that one expert says may date back more than 5,000 years. A stone wing wall from a millrace that may have carried river water during the late 1800s also was unearthed Wednesday in the second phase of the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River Improvements Project.
Click here to read the entire article.
04/26/2010
Article: "36 Hours in San Antonio"
The New York Times has featured Brackenridge Park in their April 4th article entitled "36 Hours in San Antonio." The write-up recommends park area attractions such as the San Antonio Zoo and the Sunken Gardens Theater in their list of must-see destinations while visiting the Alamo City. Check out the article by Dan Saltzstein at the New York Times web site.
04/10/2010
Easter Week End Clean Up a Success!
There was a tremendous improvement in the appearance of Brackenridge Park this Easter. The Brackenridge Park Conservancy, the city and Conservancy partners conducted an educational campaign on the Saturday prior to Easter. Volunteers from Valero Energy, City Year, First Tee of San Antonio, San Antonio River Authority, San Antonio Water System and the public distributed trash bags and picked up recyclables. Campers responded by bagging their trash, so that the city could more easily clean the park on Monday. Volunteers helped on Monday as well.
The San Antonio Water System also contributed toward the purchase of tee shirts, which were distributed to volunteers. The logo for the tee shirt was designed by a high school student responding to our request for designs. In-kind contributions came from the San Antonio River Authority, Jamba Juice, Herwick’s Art Supply, KLRN, Melinda Wickley of Wickley Interactive + Marketing and the Parks and Recreation Department.
This educational effort is an initiative of the Conservancy’s Built Environment Task Force. Our thanks go to Leilah Powell, who organized this project.
04/10/2010
The Conservancy Helps Protect the Park Boundaries
In January 2010, Incarnate Word University proposed to the city manager’s office that the Parks and Recreation Office enter into a long-term lease with the university for the 2.5 acre parcel known as the former site of the Donkey Barn, located on the east side of Hildebrand. The university would keep two existing structures: (1) an on-site storage facility; and (2) the old public works office, which would be maintained on the external part for its historical value and converted to an art gallery internally. This building would be open to the public. The university would add a third structure of four stories to serve as its new fine arts center. On its fourth floor there would be a fencing facility open to the public. The university offered to assume responsibility for Miraflores Park near the Donkey Barn.
The University’s proposal was opposed by several groups that objected to park space being used by an outside party and that the master plan for Brackenridge Park called for this site to be used as an expansion and zoo facilities. In March these groups were to hold a press conference to object to the university proposal. Meanwhile, the city rejected the university proposal. The press conference, organized by former Mayor, was held to thank the city for their actions. Speakers included Mayor Cockrell, San Antonio Parks Foundation; June Kachtik, Brackenridge Park Conservancy; Marcie Ince, Friends of the Park; Gilbert Vasquez, San Antonio Zoological Society; Vangie Flores, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and Rollette Schreckenghost, San Antonio Conservation Society.
The Conservancy looks forward to working with the San Antonio Zoological Society. The zoo has submitted a package to the city manager’s office containing their proposed uses, illustrations and a letter explaining their claim to the site.
In the long-term interests of the park we would encourage the city to develop policies regarding use of green space in the park land and maintain the park for park uses.
04/05/2010
Volunteers Clean Up Local Park
Source: www.ksat.com
Author: Eileen Gonzales, KSAT 12 News Reporter
Now that the smoke has cleared from all the Easter barbecues at Brackenridge Park, it's time to deal with the mess left behind by holiday campers.
On Monday morning, volunteers met to tackle the overflowing trash cans and confetti littering park grounds.
04/03/2010
Greener goal for Brackenridge Park’s Easter campers
Source: www.mysa.com
Author: Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje - Express News
As untold thousands of people crowded into Brackenridge Park on the day before Easter, camping out and enjoying time with family, Leilah Powell and Ethel Runion were on a mission: to decrease the glut of garbage that is created by this beloved San Antonio tradition.
