Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC) and the Hemisfair Conservancy continued working together in support of the aspirational vision to create one of the world’s great public places. The Conservancy augments HPARC resources by raising philanthropic funds for park operations and construction, historic preservation, environmental initiatives, and community programming. We are proud to report that charitable giving in 2023 supported all of the activities, outputs and outcomes listed below.
- Hemisfair’s flagship Civic Park opened! We celebrated the completion of Civic Park Phase 1 on September 29, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of San Antonio Parks Foundation’s Jazz’SAlive event. Nearly 400,000 guests visited Civic Park in the last 3 months of the year.
- Civic Park Phase 1 includes 130 mature, shade-producing trees, more than 12,000 native plants, and a nearly 2-acre Great Lawn.
- The Springs (a water feature with five limestone pools) were a welcome addition to Civic Park Phase 1’s opening. Thanks to a generous grant, the largest pool was named The Greehey Family Foundation Spring.
- The installation of Civic Park’s innovative nuisance water reclamation system handles all irrigation and water activation needs for Civic Park. This conservation system allows Civic Park to self-sustain its water needs, without using San Antonio’s drinking water source. This system is projected to save 1,000,000 gallons per year.
- Hemisfair’s award-winning Augmented Reality Tree Donor program facilitated the sponsorship of 135 trees. Using a QR code, donors celebrate their support or honor a loved one through tribute messages and images. In addition, the app offers the species and age of each individual tree and much more. Hemisfair received the 2023 Bronze Anthem Award for Nonprofit Sustainability, Environment, and Climate Campaign for developing the program.
- Construction began in October on Civic Park Phase 2, which is scheduled to open in early 2025. This area will feature additional hardscape and areas for community performances. The Kampmann Family Fountain will serve as the headwaters for the Acequia interpretation that currently runs alongside The Promenade before ultimately flowing into The Springs at Civic Park.
- To activate Tower Park, design and planning began for a basketball court. When completed, the new facility will also offer an area protected from the elements for community events.
- Representative Greg Casar championed a Community Project Funding grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for FY24. The $500,000 in federal funds will help rehabilitate the historic RCA Pavilion within the Tower Park section of Hemisfair.
- Through efforts to preserve the historic structures within the district, Hemisfair welcomed Künstler Tap Haus to the Pereida House in June. In October, Bombay Bicycle Club opened their second San Antonio location in the historic Espinoza House at Hemisfair.
- Yanaguana Garden is the second-most-visited urban park in Texas. Park play in Yanaguana Garden, supported in part by Community First Health Plans, welcomed nearly 600,000 visitors in 2023. Since opening in 2015, Yanaguana Garden has hosted more than 6 million visitors.
- The new Toddler Play Area opened, providing a safe play space for small visitors aged 2-5 years old. This space includes six forest-themed structures, an enclosed safety surface, and educational panels in multiple languages. KSAT Story.
- Celebrating the continued popularity of Yanaguana Garden’s Union Pacific Splash Pad, work began in December to expand the area’s seating area for families enjoying this favored amenity. This enhancement is made possible thanks to generous support from Wells Fargo and the Jeanie Rabke Wyatt Family Foundation.
- Free monthly programming and major community events continue to take place at Hemisfair. With the opening of Civic Park Phase 1, the urban parks district saw an increase in visitors due to Muertos Fest, Luminaria, Diwali, SA Veterans Day, and Celebrate SA.
- The third annual SA Veterans Day at Hemisfair was the official celebration for the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. This event, presented by Endeavors, welcomed thousands of our neighbors, friends, veterans, and active-duty service members for a full day of sponsored activities. Thanks to the Gary Sinise Foundation, our military-connected attendees received meal vouchers for the event, while Valero Energy provided them with free gas cards.
- Hemisfair launched fitness and wellness programming, presented by HealthTexas. The programming included free workout classes for the community in different disciplines like HIIT, yoga, and mindful meditation.
- In November, Zachry Hospitality began construction on The Monarch, a 200-room Curio line of the Hilton, one of the public-private partnerships within the Hemisfair District.
- The Hemisfair Conservancy distributed over $1,822,000 in funds to HPARC and deposited over $125,100 into the Conservancy’s growing endowment.