The selection committee at Green Spaces Alliance particularly like the fact that we are working together with our Parks Department to utilize the park land at the corner of Huisache and Allison, a small triangle of land across the street from the remainder of the park (just south of where the stables used to be). This site borders on the Spanish colonial Upper Labour Acequia, which ran through the park and on down what is now Dewberry, and was used for irrigation of crops.

The Parks Department has helped us already, by removing some of the asphalt and gravel that had been left on the site for years. We will have a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with Parks, allowing us to develop our garden there. We plan to build a fenced area for our vegetables, fruits and a native plants nursery. Nursery plants will be available for transplanting to homes throughout the neighborhood.

We’ll have more information on the Garden, soon. Please let us know if you are interested in growing with us by emailing riverroadgarden. Save the date, Saturday morning September 13th, for an organizational meeting.

Roy Schweers -on behalf of River Road Community Garden (RRCG)

Special thanks to Lea Brogan and everyone else who helped to make our 4th of July celebration unique and lots of fun for all!

• A special presentation by Mike Dominguez, VIA Community Planner, who described VIA’s plans to develop Bus Rapid Transit in San Antonio.  The first route will run between downtown and the medical center along Fredericksburg Rd., and is scheduled to begin operating in 2012.
• An update on plans to merge the SA Park Police with the SAPD by Amos Diaz, from the Park Police.  Mr. Diaz cautioned that this reduction in force would leave the perimeter of our neighborhood exposed, and requested that we contact our City Councilperson to protest.  The Board voted to voice our concerns in a letter to Councilperson Cisneros, copied to the entire council, the mayor and the city manager.
• A report by Bill Sibley, chair of the newly created Neighborhood History Committee.  The City Archeologist will be invited to a future meeting to discuss the idea of restoring and marking the Spanish colonial acequias that run through our neighborhood.  (Update: This will happen at our July 24 meeting — see previous post.)
• An update on 157 Magnolia Drive plans.  The Zoning Commission has ruled that the house is not historic and that demolition plans may proceed.  Owner Bill Morgan submitted a letter requesting that the neighborhood decide soon on Neighborhood Conservation District or Historic District status so that property owners have clear guidelines in the future.  While this process is facilitated by the City and is not a function of the RRNA, the board agreed to encourage the NCD/HD committee chair to move forward with the planning.
• The Board assisted Events Committee Chair Lea Brogan in planning the neighborhood’s Fourth of July celebration.

Our next meeting is July 24 — all are welcome!

Thanks to an idea brought forth by River Road resident Hector Gonzalez, RRNA Board member Bill Sibley has asked City Archaeologist, Kay Hindes and Bill Pennell of the City Parks Dept. to address the next RRNA Board Meeting (on Thursday, July 24 - new date!) about the possibilty of identifying and restoring portions of the original 18th century Spanish Acqueduct (Acequia) that exists today in River Road. (Part of the Acequia can be viewed in the southwest corner of Allison Park, crossing Allison Drive and proceeding west, bordering Bob Price’s property.) At one point there were over 50 miles of Acequias constructed in San Antonio. Come learn how we can (hopefully) preserve this important historic legacy still “hiding” in our midst. 7:00 PM - Lions Meeting House - 7/24/08).

If you would like to see where your home stands in relation to the new proposed flood zone you may find out here:

SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY GIS MAPPING SITE

After clicking “I Agree” and allowing the map viewer to load, you may enter your address at the bottom and click “Locate.”