Those behind the effort say this is the first “comprehensive” plan for updating the River Walk.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio leaders are moving forward with what officials describe as the first comprehensive strategic plan for the River Walk, paving the way to bring the picturesque hotspot into the 21st century amid downtown’s ongoing evolution.
The effort comes as San Antonio also pushes ahead with Project Marvel and as development continues on a multimillion-dollar Alamo Museum just steps away.
A public survey was launched in the fall, as well as a Request For Proposals for consultants to pitch themselves as partners. On Saturday, residents, business owner and other stakeholders attended the first public meeting focused on the plan.
“It’s actually the first strategic plan the city will undertake that really is looking comprehensively at the River Walk,” Chief Downtown Officer Shanon Shea Miller said.
The effort is gaining steam 18 years after a River Walk “master plan” zeroed in on accessibility. The final projects associated with that plan were completed in 2022; there were about $18.7 million in total improvements.
Miller said public feedback has highlighted a broad range of priorities for the future of the downtown attraction.
“It means different things to different people,” she said. “But one of the things that I thought was interesting and good about what we’re hearing from the public is that the priorities are really wide-ranging. Some topics tend to dominate. Fortunately, that didn’t happen here.”
A steering committee made up of about 30 members and organized for the modernization effort has split into four focus groups now meeting routinely to draft ideas. Those groups are centered on maintenance, arts and events, ecology, and business partnerships.
City leaders said preserving the River Walk’s historic character remains a key goal as modernization efforts move forward.
“We know that we have to do what we can to protect the character and the authenticity of the river,” Miller said.
Business owners along the River Walk are also participating in the process and are hopeful improvements could enhance the visitor experience.
Marco Barros, a board member with the River Walk Business Group, said a group of River Walk restaurants surveyed about the current economic conditions have seen an 11% to 12% drop in sales over recent summers.
He also said the businesses involved in his group have actually spent about two years developing goals tied to lighting, landscaping, water quality and overall aesthetics—things the strategic plan is expected to address.
“We’re going to be able to advance a lot and then fill in the gaps on things that we’re looking for (regarding) best practices from other cities,” Barros said. “I think everyone has experience in visiting another destination, and they can bring those ideas.”
The local firm Work5hop is now helping to craft the vision for the plan, which Miller said will also provide a funding framework using money available through the River Walk Capital Improvement Fund, as well as potential future bond allocations.
The developing blueprint could affect everything from accessibility to the use of new technology, including LED signage and new apps to help navigate the walk.
Miller said safety and ease of mobility are priorities, as is updating city ordinance for clarity in certain areas, such as live music.
“There’s been confusion over the years about the question of whether or not amplified music is allowed on the river,” she said. “The intent, I think, was that people didn’t want just a boombox blaring, when speakers are bad quality and it doesn’t sound good, versus if a live musician is hooked up to an amp, people appreciate that. But technically, that is amplified. So it’s really clarifying what the intent is within the codes.”
Officials hope to bring a finalized plan before the San Antonio City Council by the end of the year. Before that, leaders are expected to receive an initial briefing this summer.
“I think it would be really hard to think strategically about the future of downtown without thinking about the importance of the River Walk,” Miller said.
