City of San Antonio
Parks & Recreation Department

Monterrey Park
A History
5909 W. Commerce

Monterrey Park was established in 1962 on 51 acres purchased by the City for park purposes using funds from a 1961 bond issue. Originally named Linda Vista Park, it was re-named in October 1963 in honor of San Antonio's sister city in Mexico. San Antonio's Mayor W.W. McAllister and Monterrey's Mayor, Leopoldo Gonzalez Saenz presided at the ceremony. Shortly before this, Mayor McAllister led a delegation to Monterrey for the naming of the city's Plaza de San Antonio.

At Monterrey Park, a community center and pool were constructed, together with picnic facilities, football, soccer and rugby fields, basketball and tennis courts, and rest room facilities. A $500,000 expansion and renovation of the community center has just been completed using 1994 park bond funds. In May 1997, the center was formally re-named as the Sonny Melendrez Community Center in honor of the San Antonio media personality who has actively supported Parks and Recreation Department youth programs. Monterrey Park, adjacent to the center, retained its name.