Hemisfair Wins Two World Urban Parks Awards, Recognizing Civic Park and Staff

Hemisfair Wins Two World Urban Parks Awards, Recognizing Civic Park and Staff 

Hemisfair has received two 2026 North American regional awards from World Urban Parks (WUP), honoring Civic Park for the Large Urban Parks Award and Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation’s Operations Manager Jane Linde for the Young Park Leader Award. 

The WUP Awards highlight parks, leaders, projects, and organizations advancing the quality, equity, and management of urban parks and open spaces worldwide. Hemisfair won two of the four awards out of all North American entries, joining17 other winners from around the world who won in their respective regions. 

“We are grateful that World Urban Parks recognizes how Civic Park is a world-class example of how a large urban park can have a positive impact on the community, improve the environment, and set the standard for excellence in park management,” said Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation’s (HPARC) Chief Executive Officer Melissa Robinson. The park features an expansive lawn for events, a tree-lined promenade, native and adaptive landscaping, accessible water and design features, and spaces for recreation and quiet reflection. Designed with sustainability and resilience in mind, Civic Park includes a 42,000-gallon underground cistern that captures and reuses nuisance water for irrigation, along with water-efficient landscaping. 

“Civic Park’s high-quality design is a reflection of the entire project team, from us at HPARC and the Hemisfair Conservancy to more than a dozen AEC firms and the City of San Antonio all coming together to create a park that enriches San Antonians’ daily life as well as welcomes visitors to the area with its unique features and spaces,” said Robinson. “As we continue to build one of the world’s great public places, this award demonstrates what makes our urban parks district a world-class destination.” 

Linde has spent the past decade working at HPARC and continues to play a pivotal role in creating a welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant urban park district at Hemisfair. Young Park Leader Award recipients recognize emerging professionals under the age of 35 who exhibit leadership, innovation, and community impact. After graduating from Trinity University with an Urban Studies degree, she advanced from a seasonal Games Assistant to Operations roles, overseeing Hemisfair’s daily operations, maintenance, safety, and visitor experience across the district’s three parks. 

“I am honored to be recognized for work that often goes unnoticed, whether helping butterfly gardens thrive, coordinating volunteers, or writing play equipment proposals and more,” said Linde. “Working at Hemisfair for over 10 years has integrated me into the fabric of this community. Although operations is not glamorous, caring for such a special place in the city and the world is deeply meaningful to me as urban parks are essential for well-being and community connection.” 

The 2026 WUP Awards Program winners were selected by regional juries representing North America, Latin America, Europe, and Africa. The honorees will be recognized during the WUP Symposium 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey, in October.