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City of San Antonio
Parks & Recreation Department

Highland Park
A History
900 Rigsby

Highland Park is a 4.9 acre tract of land purchased by the City from L.P. and Celine Peck in December 1925 for $35,000. Peck's Highland Improvement Company developed the Highland Park subdivision beginning in 1913. Except for tennis courts, the park was undeveloped in its early years.

When the neighborhood began to grow rapidly in the 1920s, the Highland Park Improvement Association asked City Council in 1929 for a branch library, museum and rustic park to be developed in the area. No action was taken on the request, but in 1930, architects were hired to design a community center for Highland Park that was completed by 1932 in spite of the Depression.

A recreation director was hired in the 1930s and the center was the most active in the city, sponsoring a drama club and parade floats. The tennis courts were topped with asphalt and used for city-wide tournaments, and the newest in playground equipment was installed. Highland Park has remained an important gathering spot for neighborhood residents for 65 years. In 1997, the community center was named for James A. Bode, an active community leader in the Highland Park neighborhood.