A new public space is opening in San Antonio’s Hemisfair just as the developers of a planned hotel at Hemisfair have secured a construction loan.

The background

Officials with the Hemisfair Area Redevelopment Corp., the Hemisfair Conservancy and the city of San Antonio will take part in a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon Sept. 30 to open Civic Park.

A 7-acre civic park that welcomed visitors to Hemisfair and the 1968 World’s Fair has been revived as part of Hemisfair’s redevelopment with water features and a large grassy area that will accommodate major events.

San Antonio Parks Foundation’s Jazz'SAlive will be the first large event at Civic Park; the annual jazz festival will take place Sept. 29-30.

Dig deeper

The opening of Civic Park is the latest happening at Hemisfair, where further mixed-use redevelopment is taking place. According to a news release, real estate company CBRE arranged a hotel construction loan for Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel, which will be developed and managed by Zachry Hospitality.

The release states the upscale full-service hotel will consist of 200 luxury hotel rooms, a signature restaurant and bar, a cafe, a rooftop bar, an underground speakeasy bar, a terrace pool with cabanas, a full-service spa, a fitness center, retail outlets and a public garden. The hotel will also have ballroom and meeting space to serve as a wedding, conference and event venue.

The release states construction on the hotel will begin this fall, and it will open in late 2025.