The Paseo del Rio Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1968 to promote, protect and preserve the San Antonio River Walk, the number one tourist attraction in Texas. The Association accomplishes this through the production of special events along the River Walk throughout the year and through the publication of Rio Magazine, a monthly visitor magazine. The Association serves as an advocate, facilitator, and moderator among the business, civic, and governmental communities on matters concerning the River Walk.
History
In September 1921, a disastrous flood along the San Antonio River took fifty lives. Plans were then developed for flood control of the river. Among the plans was to build an upstream dam (Olmos Dam) and bypass a prominent bend of the river in the downtown area (between current day Houston Street and Villita Parkway), then to pave over the bend, and create a storm sewer.Work began on the Olmos Dam and bypass channel in 1926; however, the San Antonio Conservation Society successfully protested the paved sewer option. No major plans came into play until 1929, when San Antonio native and architect Robert Hugman submitted his plans for what would become the River Walk USA Travel Places. Although many have been involved in development of the site, the leadership of former mayor Jack White was instrumental in passage of a bond issue that raised funds to empower the 1938 “San Antonio River Beautification Project”, which began the evolution of the site into the present 2.5-mile-long River Walk.
Hugman endorsed the bypass channel idea (which would be completed later that year) but, instead of paving over the bend, Hugman suggested 1) a flood gate at the northern (upstream) end of the bend, 2) a small dam at the southern (downstream) end of the bend, and 3) a tainter gate in the channel to regulate flow. The bend would then be surrounded by commercial development, which he titled “The Shops of Aragon and Romula”. Hugman went as far as to maintain his architect’s office along the bend.In 1981 the Hyatt Regency San Antonio River opened with a new pedestrian connector that linked Alamo Plaza to the River Walk with concrete waterfalls, waterways and indigenous landscaping. Known as the Paseo del Alamo, this river “extension” actually flows from Alamo Plaza into the San Antonio River through the atrium of the hotel. This connector not only allows the hotel to market itself as being on Alamo Plaza and on the River Walk, but it provides the city with an urban park that connects the city’s two largest tourist attractions.Many downtown buildings like the Casino Club Building have street entrances and separate river entrances one level below. This separates the automotive service grid (for delivery and emergency vehicles) and pedestrian traffic below, and creating an intricate network of bridges, walkways, and old staircases. The San Antonio River Spurs had their four NBA Championship victory parades/cruises along the river.
Growth forces expansion
Expansion plans are underway for areas of the river north and south of downtown. As chain restaurants and establishments have begun to flourish, now taking up about a third of commercial space, talk has begun at City Hall about limiting their existence on the River Walk and keeping a distinctively local flair. On May 30, 2009 the city opened the $72 million Museum Reach. San Antonio River Walk is a Beautiful Place For Vacations. Two years later, in May 2011, the River Walk was extended by several miles to extend from Downtown to Mission Espada which is on the south side of San Antonio River. This addition (named the “Mission Reach”) is notable for its emphasis on ecological controls and improvements, as well as trail improvements to support both hiking and biking.After years of murmuring from locals and tourists about the water’s quality, talk has also begun about cleaning up the water, although the muddy bottom and silt deposits make this difficult. The muddy bottom does receive an annual cleaning during the Mud Festival.