San Pedro Park, also known as San Pedro Springs Park, the oldest park in Texas, is in San Antonio between San Pedro Avenue and Harp Street. Only one public park in America is older- Boston Common, which dates to 1630.
The land surrounding San Pedro Springs was originally set aside as a public square in 1729. In 1851 the San Antonio city council took action to reserve a clearly defined area, referred to as San Pedro Springs Reserve, for what would become the city's first park. In 1852 John J. Duerler, a Swiss landscape designer, purchased land adjoining San Pedro Springs Reserve from the city and rented the land surrounding the springs. In March 1858 the city council formally established San Pedro Park. In 1864 Duerler petitioned the city council to extend his lease on the parkland for twenty years. According to the terms of the agreement Duerler was to improve the park through landscaping and development of recreational facilities.
Over the next ten years he planted numerous trees and shrubs. He also made ponds for boating, fishing and swimming. He built bathhouses, a tropical garden, picnic and concession areas, a small zoo, an aviary, a racetrack, and a pavilion for concerts and dances. The city's first municipally-owned zoo was operated in the park from 1910 to 1915, before moving to Brackenridge Park. A municipal swimming pool was built in San Pedro Park in 1922, followed by a community playhouse and a branch library in 1929. A tennis center was built in 1954. The same year the swimming pool, which had been closed since the 1940s, was rebuilt. The last major changes at the park occurred in 1966, when the old ballpark was converted into a softball center with two playing fields, complete with scoreboards, bleachers, concession stands, and restrooms.
San Pedro Springs Park was entered in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. |
In our inaugural National Public Lands Day xeriscape project, our team of volunteers converged on San Pedro Springs Park to xeriscape various areas including the park entrance on San Pedro and the rocky embankment overlooking the poolhouse and springs. Trees were also planted along the pathway leading to the Butterfly, Hummingbird and Songbird Garden.
Select the picture below to view a slideshow of the project.
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