Category: Park News

Reconnecting with my home town: Veterans Park

Veterans Park in Brownsville. Photo: Sandra Cruz

Part one in a series of posts meant to help me reconnect with my home town and the areas around it while educating the public about the numerous places to see and experience. First of is Veterans Park in Brownsville. Last week I took a trip to see it for myself since I have never been here before, having been gone from the area for almost 20 years. What I found was a respectful and educational memorial to the areas’ veterans.

Veterans Park is located next to the city library and shares an entrance drive and parking.  It consists of veteran memorial walls and placards, a multi-purpose lawn, a walking path, and landscaping. Celebrating the rich heritage of veterans from the Brownsville community, this park is a beautiful living memorial. (City of Brownsville, 2020)

The park focuses on large concave concrete slabs that include the names of Brownsville area veterans from World War II to Afghanistan with each slab holding 40 names each. Currently there are more than 50,000 names of both living and deceased soldiers native to Brownsville. The center of the memorial contains three large flag poles centered on a concrete base with a start embedded within it. There is also a memorial to Medal of Honor Recipient, and Brownsville native, Sergeant Jose M Lopez.

The monument honors veterans from World War II to current conflicts, including the Afghanistan War and its Operation Enduring Freedom. The American Legion aimed to make the park an educational extension of the library by creating two murals showing the locations of conflicts on world maps from the 18th century to present.

If you decide to visit a park or trail, please abide Second Amended Emergency Order guidelines.  Protect yourself and others. Make sure you are wearing a face mask (face covering) and always practice social distancing.  Maintain distance–Stay 6 feet away from other people.  Avoid mass gathering. No crowds, no groups

OrigamiintheGarden² opens this weekend at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

White Bison by Kevin Box and Robert J. Lang. Photo: sabot.org

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is excited to announce the opening of its newest exhibition, OrigamiintheGarden² this weekend.  It will be on display from Saturday September 19 to Sunday May 9, 2020. Making its Texas debut, this incredible outdoor sculpture exhibition, created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, captures the delicate nature of the origami paper art form in museum quality metal. Displayed within beautiful garden settings are examples of typical origami: soaring birds, gliding airplanes, galloping ponies, floating boats and emerging butterflies.  The exhibition features Box’s own compositions as well as collaborations with world-renowned origami artists Tim Armijo, Te Jui Fu, Beth Johnson, Michael G. LaFosse and Robert J. Lang. (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2020)

There will also be a variety of dedicated programs to get visitors involved with the OrigamiintheGarden² exhibit while abiding by CDC guidelines for COVID-19. These include a curated audio tour, paper-making and origami folding classes and Japanese cooking classes. Distance learning opportunities for school groups and adults will focus on the relationship between origami and engineering, the roles plants play in paper creating, the science of paper-making and the life cycle of the butterfly through the lens of origami.  This is all included with general admission and is free for members.

Opening weekend hours are 10a.m. to 2p.m. and includes guided and self-guided exhibition tours, origami inspired hands-on activities, storytelling by Sue Kuentz on Saturday only, cash bar and food prepared by Jason Dady, shaved ice and more. COVID-19 guidelines are listed online.

General admission: members – free, adults – $15, children ages 3 through 13 – $12, children under age 3 – free, military with valid ID – $13, students with valid ID – $13, Museums for All Discount – $3 (must show SNAP or WIC EBT card with valid ID; per person, up to four people). Tickets are available online.

Esquire Tavern to participate in the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival

houstoneaves
Houston Eaves, Beverage Director for Esquire Tavern and Downstairs at Esquire Tavern. Photo: Kody Melton, used with permission.

The Esquire Tavern will be participating in the ‘Holy Agave Spirits – It’s the Bat Man of Mexico!’ event during the annual 2019 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival and Parade on Saturday, October 19.  The presentation will be from 6p.m. to 8:30p.m. and it will educate the public on how bats and other wildlife help create tequila, mezcal and other food and drink items. Space is limited. This event will feature agave influenced spirits from the James Beard nominated bar program at Esquire Tavern. Tickets are $15 and are available online; it includes general admission plus tasting of agave inspired drinks and eats. Food and drink will also be available for purchase. (Esquire Tavern, 2019)

Renowned bat ecologist and PhD Rodrigo Medellín, known as “the Bat Man of Mexico,” will lead the presentation. Beverage Director for Esquire Tavern and Downstairs at Esquire Tavern, Houston Eaves, will provide tastings of agave spirits and cocktails from behind the bar throughout the evening. Eaves will be available to answer questions about the importance of bats in producing the tequila and mezcal that can be found at the historic San Antonio tavern. Representatives from Bat Conservation International and San Antonio River Foundation will also be there, along with local artist, Ashley Mahaney displaying her bat art.

Confluence Park
310 W Mitchell St.
San Antonio, TX 78204

The Esquire Tavern has been serving drinks to locals, drifters, celebrities and all walks of life for over 80 years. It first opened in 1933 on Repeal Day, a day which celebrated the end of America’s 13-year-long alcohol prohibition. Lauded as the oldest bar on the San Antonio River Walk -still holding the title of the longest bar in Texas- The Esquire Tavern is a venue of untouchable historic significance and has many remarkable tales to tell. Although completely renovated in 2011, The Esquire Tavern still retains its vintage décor, classic furnishings and dusky lighting that allows guests to enjoy a rustic yet romantic atmosphere. Located along the River Walk, guests can sit outside and take in festive surroundings and sultry San Antonio evenings.

Annual PARK(ing) Day this Friday

softballparking18
The annual PARK(ing) Day event will take place this Friday September 21 on McCullough Avenue. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In cities across America, acres of real estate are dedicated to surface parking. If those spaces could be reclaimed, how would that transform the urban experience? The local chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and The American Institute of Architects (AIA San Antonio) and the McCullough Avenue Consortium are transforming curbside parking spaces into tiny parks at their annual PARK(ing) Day event on Friday, September 21 in on the 500 block of McCullough Avenue (at Avenue B) from 11a.m. until 8p.m. (McCullough Avenue Consortium, 2018)

PARK(ing) Day 2018 will pop up along the 500 block of McCullough Avenue, where talented local landscape architects and local AIA members will re-imagine six 9’ x 22’ curbside parking spaces as places for people. Participants include ASLA, Ford, Powell & Carson Architects & Planners and Lake|Flato Architects. Three additional spaces designed by members of AIA San Antonio’s 2PLP professional leadership class will demonstrate solutions for activating and greening McCullough Avenue. Two spaces, sponsored by Christian Assistance Ministries and the San Antonio River Authority, will creatively reflect the missions of their organizations.

PARK(ing) Day 2018 opens at 11a.m. on Friday, September 21 with six unique mini-parks and a Community Table where some of San Antonio’s best and brightest will gather to discuss issues facing our community, including the opportunity to revitalize McCullough Avenue. The community is invited to ‘come to the table’ and experience the transformational affect the PARK(ing) Day installations have on this normally busy street. Lunch will be offered by area food trucks.

A free Community Block Party begins at 5p.m. and will include a mobile amphitheater and three live bands. Free parking is sponsored by First Baptist Church of San Antonio. The celebration goes on until 8p.m. with a sampling of savory bites offered by area food trucks.

PARK(ing) Day and the Community Block Party are hosted by ASLA, AIA San Antonio and the McCullough Avenue Consortium with generous funding by First Baptist Church of San Antonio, Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, Christian Assistance Ministries and the San Antonio River Authority. In-kind sponsors include Centro San Antonio, CPS Energy, Gratr Landscapes and Schultz Landscapes.

“We hope that downtown workers, neighbors and all of San Antonio will join us at this one-day, free event, PARK(ing) Day is planned to be casual and fun – everyone is invited to join us during lunch or after work to see ideas for making McCullough Avenue more welcoming.” – Caleb Etheredge, ASLA South Texas Section president

PARK(ing) Day takes place annually on the third Friday in September. The event began in 2005 with one parking space. The temporary public park in San Francisco was created by Rebar, a local landscape design firm, in response to the fact that 70% of San Francisco’s downtown outdoor space was dedicated to the private vehicle. More than a decade later, their open source event has gone viral. Each year, more than 700 PARK(ing) Day events are organized in more than 150 cities across the United States and on 6 continents, in 21 countries around the world.

Pearl announces fitness classes at Pearl Park

pearlparkpic
Fitness in Pearl Park kicks off this Tuesday March 6.  Photo:  Pearl, used with permission.

This month Pearl is launching the Fitness in Pearl Park series to give patrons free access to rotating studio classes where they can also enjoy Bottling Department specials. These classes will take place every Tuesday beginning at 5:30p.m. with the series kicking off Tuesday March 6 and continuing through June. Each month, a different San Antonio studio will take over Pearl Park to give guests a chance to get their sweat on and enjoy specials from The Good Kind once they have completed their exercise routine. All classes are free and open to the public but those interested can sign up online. Energy X Fitness will host four classes at Pearl Park throughout the month of March. (Pearl, 2018)

March classes include:
March 6: EnergyX Circuits: High intensity and high-energy circuit style workout that features rowers, kettle bells, resistance bands, balls and more.
March 13: LIT HIIT: Low impact training (LIT), that is high intensity interval training (HIIT) using rowers, BOSUs and weights.
March 20: EnergyX Flex: Strength based workout using kettlebells and body weight.
March 27: EnergyX Circuits: High intensity and high energy circuit style.

In addition to fitness classes, Pearl will offer specials at The Bar at Bottling Department on Tuesday evenings. Specials will vary each week.

Pearl Park
312 Pearl Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78215

Fest of Tails at McAllister Park

kites4
The 11th annual Fest of Tails Kite Festival and Dog Fair will be this Saturday March 18 at McAllister Park. Photo: google

The 11th annual Fest of Tails Kite Festival and Dog Fair, presented by H-E-B will take place this Saturday March 18 at McAllister Park from 9a.m. to 4p.m. near the Wurzbach Parkway entrance. This event is free and all kite and dog enthusiasts and spectators are welcome to attend. It will feature food and live music, arts and crafts, dogs of all sizes and breeds and a sky full of kites. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket and lawn chair to watch the kite show. Those wishing to participate in the community kite flying exhibition may bring their favorite kite or purchase one onsite. Weather permitting there will be hot air balloon rides from 9a.m. to 11:30a.m. for $5 for children and $10 for adults. There will also be a dog contest and pooch parade. Presented by Sprint, categories will be “Best Dressed Dog,” “Most Resembles Owner” and “Best In Show.” There is no entry fee but competitors are encouraged to participate in the Fest of Tails Pooch Parade. Registration may be one online.

McAllister Park
13102 Jones-Maltsberger Rd
San Antonio, TX 78232
(210) 207-7275