CREATING CLASSEN STEUBING RANCH PARK The 204-acre Classen-Steubing Ranch Park will be the third public park in the Stone Oak area. Only 43 acres will be developed to include elds for sports, such as soccer and baseball, trails for walking and biking, and Mitchell’s Landing, an all-inclusive playground.
ANEWNORTH SIDE PARK City o cials said Classen- Steubing Ranch Park will attract residents looking for recreational and educational opportunities and meeting spaces. This design shows con rmed and planned amenities.
open play eld small pavilion
10-inch concrete trail baseball/softball elds large pavilion playground overlook/education center
Funding sources: 2017 city bond, 2021 certi cates of obligation, City Parks Development and Expansion Fund, City Tree Preservation Fund Construction contractor: Crownhill Builders
Original 2017 city bond allocation: $9.15M Total budget: $9.87M (includes design, construction) Expenses as of April 25: $7.34M
NOTE: THESE FIGURES APPLY TO PHASE 1 DEVELOPMENT. SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Design consultant: Rialto Studio StoneOak's newest park to o er rst all-inclusive playground Timeline: March 2021- July/August 2022
BY EDMOND ORTIZ
The city subsequently acquired 44 more acres, 39 of which were bought with funds from the voter-approved 2017 city bond. According to the city, 43 of the 204 acres are envisioned for park development, while the remain- ing acreage will stay untouched. District 9 Council Member John Courage, who represents Stone Oak, said the North Side neighborhood that began as a master-planned community in the 1980s has sought another signi cant option for park- land, green space and recreation. “The goal is harmony between res- idential, commercial and park devel- opment, but [Classen-Steubing] will bring back that balance,” Courage said. Local rm Crownhill Builders began Phase 1 of utility and construc- tion work in March 2021 at a cost of $3.5 million from 2017 bond money, according to city documents. The Phase 1 budget is $9.87 million, city o cials said. A total project cost and the number of phases needed to complete the project have not yet been determined. April Alcoser Luna, public relations manager for the San Antonio Public Works Department, said scheduled initial park features include baseball, softball and soccer elds; one picnic pavilion with restrooms; one small pavilion; concrete pathways; and separate trails for pedestrians and bicyclists. “To date, much of the ground- work for the site has been done, such
By this summer or early fall, San Antonio city o cials plan to unveil the rst phase of Classen-Steubing Ranch Park, the North Side’s newest public park that will include baseball and softball elds, pavilions, and a spot for outdoor education. This multimillion dollar, multi- phase project, which has been in the works for at least ve years, is turning one of the nal undeveloped tracts in Stone Oak into the area’s third park, according to city o cials. By the end of 2022, the 204-acre park will also feature Mitchell’s Landing, the rst public, free, all-in- clusive playground in San Antonio, o cials said. San Antonio Parks and Recreation Director Homer Garcia III said these and other amenities at Classen-Steu- bing Ranch Park will extend even more recreational o erings on the North Side. “This development has a little something for everyone,” Garcia said. Park planning Plans for Classen-Steubing Ranch Park originated in 2016 when the city used $5.3 million in Edwards Aquifer protection program funds to buy 160 acres of former ranch land that belonged to the Classen-Steu- bing family. The park site is located along Hardy Oak Boulevard across from Las Lomas Elementary School, slightly north of Huebner Road.
and past city o cials, said while organizations, such as the YMCA of San Antonio, o er recreational sports opportunities north of Loop 1604, having a public park accommodate a variety of playing elds and courts for sports will help to satisfy many area residents. “Public parks with amenities are requested by nearly every neighbor- hood in San Antonio. Our trail system is fantastic, but amenities like base- ball and soccer elds are harder to come by. My guess is you will never see this park empty. It’s a genuine boost to the quality of life and long overdue,” Courage said. Garcia agreed with Courage. “People said they wanted elds that are free, accessible to the public and not under the control of a tenant. These will be walk-on elds, mean- ing if nobody else is using it at that time, you can play on it. This de - nitely meets the needs of the com- munity,” he said. While Phase 1 continues, Garcia and Luna said the city has yet to nalize plans for Phase 2. The city’s recent $1.2 billion bond proposal, which was approved by voters May 7, contained $5 million to fund Phase 2. Garcia said Phase 2 is expected to include an outdoor education component with a natural overlook sought by many neighborhood res- idents. He said this feature should
as preparations for the park road, parking, sports elds and pavilions,” Luna said. Garcia said the trail system at Classen-Steubing Ranch Park will connect with trails emerging from nearby Stone Oak Park. Park site designs and documents crafted by local architectural rm Rialto Studio call for multiple park- ing lots; a total of ve open areas to accommodate recreational sports opportunities and/or other park functions; disc golf; tness stations; an educational center; and a land- scape bu er along the park’s main entry fronting Hardy Oak Boulevard. Recreation requests City o cials said public meetings were held with Stone Oak residents before the COVID-19 pandemic, as many residents focused on suggest- ing amenities, such as sports elds. Courage in April said he feels Phase 1 of park development “is coming along wonderfully.” He also said, thanks in part to com- munity feedback, a fully developed Classen-Steubing Ranch Park will provide a wealth of amenities includ- ing sports elds for visitors. “This is going to be a Goliath park in the city with soccer, baseball, softball, pickleball, playgrounds and walking trails,” Courage said. Courage, among other incumbent
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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