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News Release San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department Contact: Kelly Irvin/207-6122 Date: Jan. 28, 2009 Creekways Program, Voelcker Park honored with planning awards The San Antonio Section of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) has selected two San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department projects as winners of 2008 APA Awards. The Creekway Parks Development Program will receive the SA-APA Current Planning Award for an outstanding ordinance, program or process directed to the implementation of a plan. The Voelcker Park Master Plan will be honored in the 2008 Project Planning category. This award is given to an outstanding plan or study concerning a specific project, area, system or issue within a town, city, county or region. These are two of seven awards given by the local section each year. The projects are judged on innovation, potential application to other areas or projects, excellence, effectiveness and comprehensiveness. The awards will be presented at the San Antonio Section of the Texas APA annual Awards Luncheon at the Guenther House on Jan. 30 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. The Linear Park Development Program for Salado Creek, Leon Creek, Medina River and the San Antonio River is funded through sales tax approved by voters in 2000 and 2005. Approximately 980 acres of property along San Antonio creekways have been acquired for the program, with another 200 acres planned for acquisition. In addition to acquisition, design is complete or underway for approximately half of the projects and four additional trail segments are currently under construction. The Parks and Recreation Department opened seven miles of additional greenway trails in 2008 and three additional trail segments are expected to be finished in 2009. Planning for Voelcker Park, 12000 N.W. Military Highway, featured a national design competition in 2007 for the park’s master plan. The master plan was done by Stephen Stimson Associates and D.I.R.T Studio. It was approved by City Council in May 2008. The planning process included numerous community meetings and workshops as well as extensive environmental studies to include an intensive archeological survey, cultural resources survey, flora and fauna, and historic structure reports. Phase 1A of the project, which will include construction of 1.5 miles of trail, is expected to break ground in February and will allow citizens access to a portion of the park later this year. The phase also includes park access off Blanco Road, parking, plantings, picnic facilities, water fountains, an open play field and initiation of the oak savanna restoration.Phase IB will also be initiated in 2009, featuring an outdoor education classroom and pavilion on Salado Creek, a Salado Creek greenway trail connection and Salado Creek overlook. Additionally, park entrances, other park amenities, and parking areas are included.
Comments can be sent to kelly.irvin@sanantonio.gov.
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