In the News
Public meeting set on proposal
to name greenways for former mayor
Date: July 31, 2012
Contact: Kelly Irvin/207-6122
The City of San Antonio will have a public hearing to receive comments in support or opposition to the proposed naming of the greenway trails to the Howard Peak Greenway Trails on Monday, Aug. 6, at 6 p.m. at the Central Library auditorium, 600 Soledad.
Free parking will be available in the library parking garage.
Former Mayor Howard Peak began formulating the idea of a "ring" of hike and bike trails in flood zones along city-owned creeks while working in the Planning Department and while serving on the Zoning Commission. As a City Councilman representing District 9 from 1993 to 1997, he partnered with Councilman Lyle Larson to purchase the land which began the trail system in Walker Ranch Historic Landmark Park.
As mayor from 1997 to 2001, he solidified this vision of hike and bike trails along Leon and Salado Creeks and won citizen support to increase the sales tax by one-eighth of a cent to begin development of the trail system in partnership with the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program.
The sales tax initiative approved by voters in 2000 raised $20 million and funded 11 miles of trails. In 2005, Peak led a campaign to renew the tax for $45 million to add 38 miles of trails and again in 2010, the voters approved the continuation of the sales tax to build an additional 30 miles of trail.
The trail systems funding to date incorporates 79 miles of trails in an overall system goal that could ultimately yield 120 miles of hike and bike trails along the creekways.
Leon Creek Greenway North and the Medina River Greenway were recently designated as national recreation trails by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, joining a network of more than 1,150 previously designated trails that span 23 states. For more information on the greenway trail system, visit www.sanantonio.gov/parksandrec Peak also serves as the chairman of the Linear Creekway Advisory Board and has received the State Trail Advocacy Award from American Trails National Trails Awards Program.
A committee made up of 11 community representatives and the Parks and Recreation Director will conduct the public hearing and then make a recommendation to the City Council, which has final approval.