City of San Antonio
Parks & Recreation Department
O. P. Schnabel Park
9600 Bandera
A History
O. P. Schnabel Park, first called Bandera Road Park, includes 202 acres purchased by
the City in 1964. The site was noted for its many oak trees, mountain laurels and other
native vegetation. Because its natural beauty was in keeping with the interests of O.P.
Schnabel, the park was renamed in his honor in 1977.
Schnabel was widely known for his efforts to "keep San Antonio clean and
beautiful," and mounted many clean-up and beautification campaigns. He used catchy
phrases such as "nice people don't litter" and "be a beauty bug, not a
litter bug." Many thought that "O.P." stood for Old Push Broom, but the
letters were actually Schnabel's initials. The Beautify San Antonio Association is named
for Sadie Ray and Waldo Graff who, together with Schnabel, devoted their lives to the
organization. O.P. Schnabel Park has been called "the cleanest little park in
Texas."