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(San Antonio)- The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) and Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) announced a joint recreational and environmental collaboration along the historic San Antonio River today. The property, known as the Espada Tract or Property, is located on 380 acres of land on the South Side of San Antonio. Speakers included San Antonio River Authority General Manager Derek Boese, San Antonio River Authority Board Chair Jim Campbell, Texas A&M University-San Antonio President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson and Texas A&M University-San Antonio Professor and Chair of the Department of Life Sciences Dr. Marvin Lutnesky. After the announcement, media and attendees were given tours of the property.
“We are honored to be part of this new partnership and ownership with the San Antonio River Authority on this beautiful and historic track,” said Dr. Teniente-Matson. “What we see here in this 300-plus acre property is an educational ecosystem. We all can play a significant role in historical preservation and educational research; that is the beauty of the partnership between our two entities.”
The property, located south of Mission Espada, was donated to the River Authority and A&M-SA by The TJX Companies, Inc., the leading off-price apparel, and home fashions retailer in the U.S. and worldwide, after acquiring acreage for a T.J. Maxx Distribution Center on the South Side of San Antonio. TJX committed to donating 15 to 20 acres of land to the Southside Independent School District for construction of a school, as well as the donation of the Espada Property.
“The San Antonio River Authority is here to protect, preserve, and manage the resources and environment of the San Antonio River Basin,” said Derek Boese, General Manager of the San Antonio River Authority. “We are grateful for collaborations like this one, which enable us to live out our mission.”
The Espada Property protects the scenic open space views along 2.2 miles of the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trail System, including 1.6 miles along the San Antonio River, surrounding 40-acres around Cassin Lake. This trail system plays a significant role in linking the Median River Greenway System to the San Antonio River Walk and Mission Reach trails, which allow the community to hike or bike from Brackenridge Park to Medina River Natural Area.
“We have this opportunity due to the foresight of many community leaders,” said Jim Campbell, Chair of the Board of Directors for the San Antonio River Authority. “This property has a lot of history, and this collaboration has a lot of history. It guarantees the permanent protection of this area for generations to come.
The partnership allows for the character of the area to remain, and a chance to restore the area with native shrubland and riparian bottomland forest areas throughout the property, which serve as refuge for resident and migratory wildlife. Plans for the property will be introduced through a master planning process, managed by Dunaway, which will include input from the community.
“This is one area we want to develop at the University, and there are limitless projects that can be done here. The value this collaboration has is tremendous. We are so excited about the upcoming projects we will have. I have students asking all the time, 'when can we start studies on the property?' They are anxious to utilize the area," said Dr. Lutnesky.
Proposed plans include a learning center managed by A&M-SA, which will provide an outdoor nature and biology research opportunity for faculty and students. The River Authority will handle operation and maintenance of the property, including Espada dam and Cassin Lake. Inclusion of park amenities will also be considered and developed through the master planning process.
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About Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in south San Antonio, the University offers 37 undergraduate degrees and 19 graduate degrees to nearly 7,300 students. A&M-San Antonio is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders and the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center. The University holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and is one of only 30 higher education institutions in the U.S. to have received the Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education for its support of Latino student success. More than 77 percent of A&M-SA students identify as Hispanic, and approximately 60 percent are the first in their family to attend college. A&M-San Antonio is a military-embracing institution; in 2020, Military Times ranked the University No. 35 in the nation for “Best for Vets: Colleges.” Visit tamusa.edu for more information. #onamission