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John James Park
General Info
| Address: | 1300 Rittiman Road 78234 |
| Phone: | 207-7275 |
| Website: | Community Link Center |
| Hours: | Sunday-Saturday: 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. |
| Size: | 89.6 acres |
| Amenities: | Softball fields (rentable) Playground Restroom Soccer fields (leased) .5-miles of hard and soft trails Trail Map fitness stations |
| Fees: | Call for fees. |
| Notes: | Alcohol prohibited |
Availability: |
Park History
John James Park, now 89.6 acres on the east bank of Salado Creek, began as a gift from the federal government of 43 acres received on Dec. 21, 1973, under the Federal Land Surplus Program. It was originally known as Fort Sam Houston Park, but was renamed for John James on June 20, 1974. A native of Nova Scotia, John James arrived in San Antonio in 1837. He became Bexar County chief surveyor and surveyed and established the city's boundaries in 1846. He participated in the Battle of Salado in 1842. In 1844 he surveyed and laid out the city of Castroville. In 1853, he and Charles de Montel established the city of Bandera and set up a horse-powered lumber mill there. He also established the first lumberyard in San Antonio and introduced Merino sheep in the Bandera area. In 1854, he and 35 others headed to California with more than 1,00 head of cattle. James also survey Fort Davis, Boerne, D'Hanis, and Quihi. He is said to have surveyed more land in Texas than any other individual surveyor. James was also the father-in-law of well known architect Alfred Giles. James died on Nov. 26, 1877 at the age of 56.
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