Arboretum San Antonio accepting feedback for final design
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The three designs. Image: Courtesy of Arboretum San Antonio
Plans for Arboretum San Antonio are taking root, allowing residents to weigh in on features they'd like to see in the tree sanctuary, which is expected to be the second-largest in Texas.
Why it matters: Called a "museum of trees," the arboretum will provide outdoor activity space and serve as a destination for the Southeast Side.
The latest: Arboretum San Antonio hosted a feedback session last week showcasing three concept plans for the site, which was once the Republic Golf Course.
- The Community Crossroads plan focuses on connecting people to nature with trails, an expanded lake and Indigenous plant education.
- Wild San Antonio emphasizes ecological restoration, including a canopy walk over Salado Creek and a native tree nursery.
- The Testing Grounds plan serves as a "landscape laboratory," featuring a zipline, irrigation research and water quality testing.
Between the lines: The conceptual designs by architecture firm Sasaki feature canopy walks, tree houses and community gardens in response to early community feedback, Anna Cawrse, a landscape architect, told the SA Report.
- "I've never seen a community so excited about canopy walks, so I'm happy about this," Cawrse said.
Flashback: Last November, Bexar County approved $7.3 million for the arboretum — $2 million for land purchase and $5.3 million for infrastructure. The city is also contributing $600,000 for the project, according to the Express-News.
- Total project costs could reach $50 million, Evangeline Flores, chair of the arboretum board, told the SA Report.
- Arboretum San Antonio is also raising funds from corporate and private donors.
By the numbers: The 188-acre property is home to more than 85 plant species, including 66 that are native, arboretum spokesperson Kate Edwards tells Axios San Antonio.
What's next: Arboretum San Antonio is still accepting feedback via an online survey.
- The final design is expected in early 2025.