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Woodlawn Lake Park
Woodlawn Lake Community Room Now Open
May 2013 Community Room ScheduleThe City of San Antonio and District 7 Councilman Cris Medina, along with citizens, recently celebrated the completion of a new Community Room at Woodlawn Lake Park, adjacent to the gymnasium, 1103 Cincinnati.
The meeting room has been renovated to include new fiber optic lines to support publically accessible Wi-Fi so that citizens can utilize their laptops and other electronic devices to do research, apply for jobs, and other on-line pastimes. Additionally, the room received new furniture, carpeting, lighting, and paint to complement the space.
In addition to the open, public hours, the community room features literacy activities coordinated by the San Antonio Public Library, to include story time for children, teen club, and Dare to Read Club for adults. See the schedule above for days and times for these activities.
The room also features a health kiosk where citizens will be able to receive important health assessment information including heart rate, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood pressure.
General Info
| Address: | 1103 Cincinnati, 78201 |
| Phone: | 207-7275 |
| Website: | Community Link Center |
| Hours: | Sunday-Saturday: 5 a.m. – midnight |
| Size: | 62 acres |
| Amenities: |
Pavilion (Photo) Berta Almaguer Dance Studio, 138 S. Josephine Tobin Drive (not available for reservations) Swimming pool (outdoor, seasonal) (rental – 207-3299) Gymnasium (rentable) Lake – fishing and canoeing Small pavilion (rentable) Island house (rentable) Playscape Basketball court Tennis court Athletic fields Restrooms 25 Picnic units 1.3 mile walking trail Trail Map |
| Fees: | Pavilion Rental: Monday through Thursday, before 5 p.m.: $50 for the first four hours and $30 an hour every hour after that. Friday-Sunday, weekdays after 5 p.m., and holidays: $100 for the first four hours and $30 an hour for every hour after that. Restrooms are available as well as off-street parking. The playground and walking trail remain open to the public during these rentals. Island House Rental: $100 for four hours; $30 for each additional hour. There is a $100 refundable damage deposit. Reserving party must bring their own tables and chairs. They are not provided with the reservation. This is available for small gatherings only such as meetings, luncheons or baby showers. Capacity is approximately 25 people. Gym Rental: $25 an hour with a minimum of two hours for practices or games. This gym is available for volleyball or basketball. All league activity is handled through the Parks and Recreation Athletics Section. A letter of request is required for approval. It should include what kind of league, name of league, what days and times are needed. Should note if scoreboard is needed. The league must provide its own score keeper. A letter can be sent to Athletics, Ron Darner Parks and Recreation Headquarters, 5800 Old Hwy. 90 W., San Antonio, Texas 78227 Attn.: Herman Garza or faxed to 207-3045. Softball Field Rental: $6 an hour until 5 p.m. and $10 an hour after 5 p.m. It is not lighted. Organized sports league games are $20 an hour. |
| Notes: | Alcohol prohibited WoodlawnLake - (Gym Side) Woodlawn Lake Park site map - (Party House side) |
Availability: |
Park |
Step Up to Recreation at Woodlawn Lake (Video PSA)
Park History
Woodlawn Lake was the dream of real estate developers in the 1880s who wanted to build West End, a residential subdivision on San Antonio's rural west side. It was George W. Russ, president of the Rhode Island-based West End Town Company, who saw great potential in the flat pasture on Alazan Creek and made the dream come true. To attract residents, the creek was dammed to create West End Lake, which some reports say was as large as 80 acres. (Today it is about 30 acres.)
Visitors traveled by street car to enjoy what was called "the finest artificial lake in the south." Electric lights (still new at that time) illuminated the lake where visitors danced in an outdoor pavilion and rowed in small boats. In later years there were outdoor movies and vaudeville acts. The lake and surrounding land were privately owned until 1918 when they were deeded to the City. The name was changed to Woodlawn Lake and many improvements and additions were made to the 62-acre park in the next 79 years.
Today, after more than 100 years, Woodlawn Lake remains a popular gathering spot for visitors from throughout San Antonio. Residents use a walking trail daily, fish from the boat dock, swim at the pool, play basketball in the gym, and dance at Bertha Almaguer Dance studio. In the late 1990s the park became the site of the city's annual Fourth of July celebration, complete with fireworks and a parade. It continues to draw enormous crowds each year.
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