San Antonio District 2 City Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez held a press conference Feb. 23 to comment on the city’s postponing a city panel decision regarding a proposed mass tree removal at Brackenridge Park.

The Feb. 16 meeting of the San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission was the scene of several residents criticizing the city’s plan to remove more than 180 trees from the park, including 10 heritage trees, local officials said.

The tree removal is part of a planned $7.75 million project funded by the 2017 city bond to improve Brackenridge Park, including work along the San Antonio River retaining wall, the city said.

Local officials have said the tree removal is needed to adequately repair the retaining wall, but numerous residents and local activist groups have voiced concern that removing the trees could disrupt life for park visitors and wildlife.

The HDRC was scheduled to meet Feb. 25 to further discuss the proposal and possibly act on it, but that meeting has been delayed, a city news release said.



According to the release, the city will work with the Texas Historical Commission and re-engage a committee of Brackenridge Park stakeholders to ensure historic park structures are adequately protected and to provide minimal effects from the removal of heritage trees.

Local officials said the city has proposed planting hundreds of trees around the park as part of park improvements.

“No one wants to remove heritage trees, especially from a historic city park, but if the removal ultimately remains necessary to protect the public and historic structures at Brackenridge, I want the community to understand the full context of the project,” City Manager Erik Walsh said. “So, I have directed staff to pause consideration by the HDRC—which has dominated the conversation and distracted from the broader benefits of the restoration work—while we complete the design and work with our partners and stakeholders.”

McKee-Rodriguez, at his press conference at Brackenridge Park, said he wants to make sure the city fully hears out residents, including park plan critics.


“I want to thank the many residents who’ve raised their voices to remind us all that our fates are interconnected—our land, trees, air, water, our cultural heritage and ourselves are all worthy of protection and transparency as it relates to our collective future,” McKee-Rodriguez said.

McKee-Rodriguez said postponing HDRC action on the proposed tree removal presents an opportunity to restore public trust in the city, and for City Hall to collaborate with stakeholders.

“To remove trees at this scale is not a decision any of us take lightly, and we are eager to facilitate further discussion and education,” he said.

The city said it was taking a precautionary measure to fence off the Lambert Beach project area on the western side of the San Antonio River to restrict public access due degrading conditions in the immediate area, including the retaining wall pathways.


City plans in the Brackenridge Park bond project call for restoration of century-old walls on Lambert Beach, rehabilitation of a historic acequia and dam, and stabilization of a pump house and waterworks channel that both were built in the 1870s.

The city release said the project team will seek HDRC approval this spring or summer for the final design of Lambert Beach project work and the conceptual design of the pump house and dam work.

“Given the historic and cultural significance of the park, the parks and recreation department is reconstituting a group of stakeholders that has historically advised the city on Brackenridge Park improvements,” the release said. “The committee will include park tenants, adjacent neighborhood associations and regulatory agencies to create a forum for guiding park development and information sharing. This committee will convene prior to the city project team returning to HDRC.”