Did you know that San Pedro Springs Park is not only the oldest park in Texas, but also the oldest municipal park in the United States?
The history of this land reaches back to early 1700s. Located on land owned by the Spanish government and dedicated for public use in the 18th Century, San Pedro Springs Park has had many people gather there for some 12,000 years, according to the city. Hunter-gatherers found water, food, and rock to fashion weapons, and Spanish explorers first established their camps here in the late 17th century.
First Caretaker
John Jacob Duerler, a Swiss landscape designer, was an early resident and caretaker of the park. In 1852 had purchased land adjoining San Pedro Springs from the city and rented the land surrounding the springs.
Over the next 10 years, Duerler planted numerous trees and shrubs. He also made ponds for boating, fishing, and swimming, according to the Texas State Historical Association. He also built bathhouses, a tropical garden, picnic and concession areas, a small zoo, an aviary, a racetrack, and a pavilion for concerts and dances.
The city later began to manage the park after Duerler died in 1874
Renovations
The 1998-2000 renovation of San Pedro Springs Park retained many of the historical uses and restored landscape and structural features that are important reminders of the park’s long and interesting history. San Pedro Springs Park was then entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
After the renovation, the park re-opened with bridges, benches, planting beds, and stone-lined pathways, which are still there to this day. A municipal swimming pool, fed by the springs, was built in San Pedro Springs Park in 1922, followed by a community playhouse and a branch library in 1929 – all are also still in use.
Today
Walking the grounds, there isn’t a lot of trails to follow. It’s surrounded by streets and neighborhoods so you’re not exactly escaping the bustling sounds of the city. However, you can hang out at the playground, on benches or under the tall trees.
(Source: MySanAntonio.com)