Bexar County Commissioners Court approved a series of agreements that will establish the
future 188-acre Arboretum
Arboretum San Antonio received approval from Bexar County Commissioners Court for the allocation of $7,300,000 for the purchase of land, master planning, and infrastructure for the future Arboretum.
Arboretum San Antonio will be a preserve in the heart of San Antonio’s historic southeast side that will focus on celebrating the native trees of South Texas. The park will be located at the former Republic Golf Club, off SE Military Drive, of which Brooks will purchase 158.5 acres and enter a long-term lease with Arboretum San Antonio to develop. With the inclusion of multi-use pathways, the park will total 188 acres.
“This project is the epitome of partnership,” said Thomas Corser, CEO of Arboretum San Antonio. “Without the abundance of support from the County, public and private partners, and the community, we would not have reached this milestone today. We look forward to delivering this legacy project to San Antonio.”
Of the allocated funds from Bexar County, $2,000,000 will be used for the purchase of property and the remaining $5,300,000 will be used for master planning costs and the development of roads and parking lots to access the property.
The inception of Arboretum San Antonio began in 2021 when Founder Henry Cisneros, Former Mayor of San Antonio, and 10th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, expressed his vision for an Arboretum to be established on the South Side of San Antonio.
“This a prime location for the park,” said Cisneros. “Investing in a historically underserved area in close proximity to the Salado Creek Greenway, Mission Reach, and the Missions will be beneficial for all who live, work, and visit the South Side.”
The approval of this funding from Bexar County enables Arboretum San Antonio to leverage into foundation, corporate, private, and other governmental funding opportunities to complete this long-term project.
“I totally agree that this is a game changer for Precinct 4, and specifically the Southeast sector, and how it all connects with all the ongoing projects, the creeks, and trails,” said Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai. “I see this project as a way for the entire Bexar County to seek refuge from this hectic world that we live in.”
Arboretum San Antonio expects to close on the land purchase this month, and to officially kickoff master-planning in early 2024.
The Arboretum will be a leading recreational, ecological, and educational resource for residents and visitors of all ages across the greater San Antonio area. The Arboretum will feature pedestrian and bicycle trails, a nursery to propagate native trees for the Arboretum and other public spaces, nature-based programming for all ages, event spaces, and public art displays. Above all, the Arboretum will create a safe, reflective space for visitors to enjoy the peace and healing that communion with nature brings.
