City of San Antonio
Parks & Recreation Department

Miller's Pond Community Park
A History
6175 Old Pearsall Road

Miller's Pond Community Park consists of 42.15 acres of land purchased by the City of San Antonio in June 1976 from the BB Smith Company. The $150,700 purchase was financed with a $75,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and 1970 bond funds. The park was informally called "Valley Hi Park" until it was officially named by City Council ordinance on April 14, 1977.

A second Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and Revenue Sharing funds were used to develop the park beginning in 1980. Initial improvements consisted of site work, an entrance road and parking area, a pavilion and rest room facilities, 15 picnic units, a playground area and installation of lighting, irrigation and landscaping.

Two active neighborhood groups, People Active in Community Effort (PACE) and Southwest Community Association (SWCA), worked with City officials to establish a community center in Miller's Pond Community Park. In June 1987, ground was broken for the 8,000-square-foot building financed primarily through Community Development Block Grant funds. The center was dedicated in March 1988. Later that year a $5,000 gift from the Charity Ball Association funded the purchase of equipment for a children's playground that was dedicated in May 1989. The Miller's Pond recreational practice area, including a football/soccer practice field, additional picnic facilities and security lighting, was completed in 1990 using CDBG funds.

The community center was expanded in 1989 (an activity room and a weight room) and again in 1997 (a multipurpose room).