River Walk

San Antonio, TX

Contributed by Project for Public Spaces

Pedestrian esplanade first constructed as a WPA project between 1939 and 1941, running along 2-1/2 miles of the San Antonio River.

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Why It Works

River Walk is an early example of a riverfront park that became a catalyst for revitalizing not just a neglected waterway, but an entire community. Paseo del Rio, as it's also known, brings economic benefits to the city by providing an important public space as an attraction to visitors and locals alike. Twenty-one bridges, each unique, and 31 stone stairways connect the river level with downtown San Antonio streets; the varied landscape provides opportunities for people to jog or amble, people-watch, eat, shop, sightsee and celebrate, attend entertainment events - or just sit in tranquility.

River Walk hosts major cultural events as well as smaller-scale community events, and the mix of business, leisure and cultural uses attract people to it at all times of the day and week.

History & Background

The San Antonio River was saved from drainage attempts in the 1920s by Emily Edwards, wife of the city's planner, and other concerned citizens; but Riverwalk was not developed until the WPA committed to the concept years later. WPA engineer Edwin Arneson used architect Robert Hugman's plan and constructed the multilevel walks, steps and bridges that give River Walk much of its present-day character. He used the same building materials throughout the project, particularly native sand-colored rock.

However, much of this work deteriorated rapidly and the riverfront park developed a seedy reputation in the 1950s and '60s. Then two San Antonio businessmen, David Straus and Cyrus Wagner, sparked a second redevelopment campaign; their successful efforts to lure local shops and restaurants to River Walk resulted in the city's hosting of the 1968 HemisFair. The park has been scrupulously maintained since then and is now home to numerous outdoor cafes and restaurants, sightseeing river cruises, outdoor theater, and, most notably, the San Antonio Fiesta Parade of riverfloats.

Contact Info:

Paseo del Rio Association: 210-227-4262

User Comments:

04/19/05 Blah Blah said:: I live a couple hours from San Antonio, and everytime I'm in town my friends and I always visit the Riverwalk. It is a really awesome place, it is never boring because there are always new things to do and see everytime we visit. It reflects the culture of the area and is very well planned with nice walkways and pretty gardens, a mall, a ton of restaraunts, and great shops and attractions. I've never seen any place like it.
11/16/05 Elaine Sebald said:: I was born and raised in San Antonio, and, though I've lived elsewhere for the past 18 years, I return for regular visits. I was alarmed to find a Hard Rock Cafe on the River Walk during a visit a few years ago because, as your description reflects, the River Walk was saved through the efforts of local business -- and has always been dominated by local businesses. On this past visit, I saw that a Rainforest Cafe is in the works. Even sadder, an article in the paper reported that a local ice cream shop that's been on the River Walk for 20+ years is being evicted to make way for a chain steak house. I've always thought San Antonio knew better than to let something like this happen. The owner of the ice cream shop is suing. I hope he wins and, in the process, rouses people out of their chain-induced stupor.
01/02/06 David Richelieu said:: To the San Antonio visitor dismayed by the coming of national chains to the River Walk, this is a trend everywhere -- shopping centers, malls, etc, What are the property owners supposed to do? Go broke while national chaisn are offering them millions to lease their space? Besides local design controls can keep these places from looking too glitzy. As for the River Walk itself, it is home to restaurants, clubs, etc, but also the city's largest hotels, banks and office buildings and even a high-rise hospital that is the fifth tallest hospital in the world, a 1 million aquare foot Convention Center and a 125-store mall with a 40 story Marriott Hotel attached along with an IMAX and IMAX 3-D theater. The River Walk is the No. 1 visitor attraction in Texas, draws 7.5 million visitors a year and is the dynamo driving a tourism industry that brings in about $20 billion a year. It cost less than $1 million to build in 1939. And the citizens here don't want to invest any more money in river improvements. Let's see a one-time $1 million turns into income of $20 billion every yeare. Wall Street would die over such a return on investment. DAVID ANTONY RICHELIEU San Antonio Texas