The River Road Neighborhood Association firmly opposes a controversial  and secretive proposal to use city bond funds to demolish San Antonio’s historic Sunken  Garden Theater and convert it into an event space that will overwhelm the infrastructure of the  entire area.  “This is the people’s park. It is not for sale,” says River Road Neighborhood Association Chair  Lucy Wilson. “The Brackenridge Park Conservancy has put forward a proposal to use public  funds in a private development scheme.”  

This NOWCastSA original production gives context to the problem with the birds at Brackenridge Park. Watch now to learn more:

After obtaining approval from the Texas Historical Commission on Phase I, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation’s next step is to meet and discuss with the Historic Design and Review Commission. On April 19, the HDRC unanimously approved the city’s updated plans with three added stipulations from the River Road Neighborhood Association which are:

The Texas Historical Commission came to San Antonio to further discuss the City of San Antonio's proposed plans for Brackenridge Park where 48 trees are slated to be removed and 19 additional trees to be relocated.

The Historic Design and Review Commission (HDRC) will review the city's plan for Brackenridge Park on April 19 at 3 p.m. The meeting will take place in person at 1901 S. Alamo and will likely be the last meeting for public input. Watch the livestream at www. Sanantonio.gov/DSD/Boards/MeetingVideos or listen by calling 210-206-LIVE (5483) and select the option to listen in English or Spanish.

The Executive Committee of the Texas Historic Commission (THC) tabled the City of San Antonio’s plan to remove and relocate about 67 trees. In order for the city to go ahead with their plans, they must first obtain approval and receive a permit from the THC.

Tree advocates earned a small victory when the controversial Brackenridge Park Bond Project was pulled off the Texas Historical Commission (THC) agenda on Feb. 1, delaying the city’s plan to chop 77 heritage trees. According to the THC, the project was removed from the agenda due to travel safety amid the freezing weather. It will be discussed at the next meeting.

After seven meetings that were supposed to engage residents to discuss and ask questions about the 2017 Bond Project plans, residents say they still feel like they haven’t been heard as the City of San Antonio pushes ahead to remove 77 historic trees in Brackenridge Park.

A fourth meeting about the fate of heritage trees in Brackenridge Park ended with a proposal to remove 43 trees and save 34 trees originally slated to be destroyed. The fourth Brackenridge 2017 Bond Project meeting was held on June 14, 2022 where findings and final recommendations were presented on phase one which consisted of wall relocation conclusions, tree assessment, final designs, and project schedule. The next meeting is scheduled for July 14.

Vocal public support for Brackenridge Park’s heritage trees has so far blocked San Antonio from carrying out a controversial plan to destroy more than 100 of them. On May 24, San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation and Public Works Department will hold its third meeting for the public to learn and discuss the fate of the trees and the broader Brackenridge 2017 Bond project. However, due to the public’s anger and frustration with the previous meetings’ format, the city is now calling for a fourth meeting for public input.