Agreement preserves land, creates outdoor lab
A collaboration between Texas A&M University-san Antonio, and the San Antonio River Authority will create a host of new educational and recreational opportunities for the university’s students and faculty, and the San Antonio community.
Finalized in November, the partnership is based around a wonderful natural asset: 380 pristine acres on the South Side near Mission Espada.
The property protects the scenic views along 2.2 miles of the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trail System, including 1.6 miles along the San Antonio
River, surrounding the 40-acre Cassin Lake. This trail system links the Median River Greenway System to the San Antonio River Walk and Mission Reach trails, enabling people to hike or bike from Brackenridge Park to the Medina River Natural Area.
The collaboration will not only help preserve and restore this valuable tract of land but also guide the vision for educational projects, such as a learning center where students can study the area’s plants and wildlife. The idea is to create an outdoor laboratory for long-term research initiatives in the fields of biology, ecology, public health and history. This positions Texas A&M University-san Antonio, or TAMUSA, as the region’s only university with in-field research opportunities dating back to prehistory.
As part of the partnership, TAMUSA co-owns the 380 acres with the river authority, which will handle the operation and maintenance of the property, including Espada Dam and Cassin Lake. Texas A&M University-san Antonio will manage the proposed learning center, which will be located near one of the cleanest, most free-flowing sections of the San Antonio River. The Texas Land Conservancy established a conservation easement to protect the property. Archaeologists have unearthed evidence that shows the land was once occupied by Indigenous peoples before the arrival of the Spanish in 1718.
Moving forward, TAMUSA and the river authority will work with Dunaway, a Texas firm that offers engineering, architecture and construction services, to develop a longterm master plan for the property.
The Espada development process will include public input to help ensure the land is an accessible and welcoming resource for the entire San Antonio community. Ultimately, we envision this area serving as an opportunity to recruit students from throughout the region to create pathways for education and jobs.
The genesis of this project began five years ago when TAMUSA and the river authority entered into discussions with TJX Cos. Inc., which owned the land. The off-price retailer had acquired about 1,200 acres between the San Antonio River and U.S. 281, where it built a T.J. Maxx distribution center along the west side of the property.
When the retailer committed to donating 300-plus acres along the east section, the river authority and TAMUSA issued a joint letter in May 2017 expressing an interest in the donation. After several years, many meetings and a pandemic, the deal was finalized.
Texas A&M University-san Antonio is honored to be part of this new partnership and ownership with the San Antonio River Authority. Together, we can help create a one-of-akind destination and play a significant role in historical preservation and educational research. As we all work toward making the San Antonio region a more vibrant and equitable destination, I’m excited by the potential of this project and the many opportunities it will bring.