San Antonio City Council’s action March 17 brings the city one step closer to linking the Salado Creek greenway trails north of Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston with those south of the U.S. Army base.

Council approved the relocation and construction of 26 horse paddocks on Fort Sam Houston property and authorized the execution of an amended easement to accommodate the trail alignment, city officials said.

According to a news release, as part of the Joint Base San Antonio Equestrian Center located at Fort Sam Houston, the horse paddocks are located within the Salado Creek trail route and will be relocated prior to construction of the greenway trail project.

The amended easement will allow construction of the paddocks outside the greenway trail easement, in addition to the construction of the greenway trail through base grounds. Construction of the horse paddocks is anticipated to begin this spring and be completed by the fall, the release said.

“The relocation of the horse paddocks and amended easement will ultimately allow for the much-anticipated completion of the Salado Creek greenway trail north and south of the base,” Parks and Recreation Director Homer Garcia III said. “We want to thank JBSA for their continued support and partnership on this project as we continue to fulfill the vision of the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trail System.”

City officials said construction of the 3.7-mile hike-and-bike trail is anticipated to begin in 2023 and will result in 35 miles of new connected trail along the Salado Creek greenway. The city has developed 86 total miles of greenway trails around San Antonio to date.