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News Release San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department Contact: Kelly Irvin/207-6122 Date: Feb. 11, 2009 Park to be dedicated in honor Of former Councilwoman Bonnie Conner Friends and colleagues of former District 8 Councilwoman Bonnie Conner will gather at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, to honor the parks and open space advocate for her body of work in San Antonio with the grand opening of a park named in her honor at 13300 Woller Road on San Antonio’s northwest side. Expected to attend, along with Conner, are the current District 8 Councilwoman Diane Cibrian and Parks and Recreation Department Director Xavier Urrutia. The park, which was named for Conner by the City Council in 2007, features a playscape, pavilion, picnic units, and other amenities. It is currently accessible through the parking lot of the adjacent John Igo Library, 13330 Kyle Seale Parkway. Funding for the new park came from 2003 and 2007 park bonds in the amount of $508,614. Councilwoman Bonnie Conner was elected to the San Antonio City Council in 1999 and re-elected in 2001, serving two, accomplishment-filled terms. She was active in several community service capacities prior to her council service, including co-authoring the city’s Tree Preservation Ordinance. She also formed Friends of Medina River, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving a river corridor in south San Antonio. From 1997 to 1998, she served on the Parks and Recreation Board and the Open Space Advisory Board. She also successfully developed the Proposition 1 and 3 initiatives, which used sales tax revenues to purchase sensitive land over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. She served on the Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors from 2004 to 2008. She chaired the Citizens Bond Park Committee and was active in the bonds’ passage and the Voelcker Park acquisition. She serves as President of the Voelcker Conservancy and the Conservation Advisory Board. Mrs. Conner has served as the President of the Friends of the Parks, an auxiliary organization of the San Antonio Parks Foundation, where she also serves on the Board of Directors. Mrs. Conner served on the Master Plan Committee for the Japanese Tea Garden and has closely coordinated the renovation of the Garden in conjunction with the San Antonio Parks Foundation. Prior to her career in public service, she taught in public schools for 21 years in Edgewood, San Antonio and Northside Independent School Districts.
Comments can be sent to kelly.irvin@sanantonio.gov.
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