San Antonio River Foundation commits $2 million for construction of Mission Portals to re-establish connection of historic missions with river

SAN ANTONIO - The Mission Reach project, an eight-mile stretch of the San Antonio River that extends from Lone Star Boulevard near downtown to Mission Espada, has received its first commitment for major enhancements from the non-profit San Antonio River Foundation in the form of a $2 million commitment that will be used towards the design and construction of four "Mission Portals" that will re-connect the missions with the San Antonio River.

Four portals or gateways will connect the river to San Antonio's historic missions, inviting visitors to make the short journey from the river to each of the nearby missions: Concepción, San Jose, San Juan and Espada. To be designed by teams of artists, architects, landscape architects and historians, the portals will inform and inspire as they encourage discovery of what many call the cultural heart of the city.

"The Mission Reach involves a holistic approach that includes multiple partners all working toward the same goal, yet with different discipline foci," said Nick Hollis, chairman of the board of directors of the San Antonio River Foundation. "The River Foundation's role is to create and fund cultural, recreational, educational and artistic enhancements that elevate the opportunities for citizens and visitors to enjoy the San Antonio River," Hollis continued.

"Not unlike the Museum Reach where we commissioned public art, helped fund enhanced walkways and beautiful landscaping, our goal is to elevate the amenities that go beyond the base project," Hollis said.

"This is one of the largest multi-phase projects in the history of the city and it could not move forward efficiently and effectively without the cooperative effort of all of the project partners, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the San Antonio River Foundation, the San Antonio River Authority, Bexar County, the City the San Antonio, the National Park Service, the River Oversight Committee and the many community supporters and organizations in the area," said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

Indeed, the cohesive partnerships that keep the project advancing received praise by Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy during a recent visit to the city to learn more about the first phase of the restoration initiative along the river.

"The major focus of this project is ecosystem restoration--to restore a more natural setting and environment for the southern portion of the river by transforming the straightened river while maintaining flood protection, reducing erosion, reintroducing native vegetation and restoring an environment more suitable for wildlife," said Tom Weaver, chairman of the board of directors of the San Antonio River Authority.

"While the Museum Reach was a beautiful and compelling addition to the River Walk located in an urban setting, the Mission Reach intersects with many historic Southside neighborhoods over 600 acres of National Park lands. The project will reintroduce the river to local residents and offer amenities that have not been available before. It will take private and public funds to create this beautiful linear park and we are fortunate to have the River Foundation working so hard to raise private funds," said Wolff.

"It is so exciting to see how the River Improvements Project is impacting this diverse and culturally rich area," said Scott Bentley, Superintendent of San Antonio Missions National Park. "As the project evolves, it allows us to more effectively tell the story of the unique relationship between the missions and the San Antonio River," he said. The four missions are part of the National Park Service and they are visited by more than one million people a year.

San Antonio's Franciscan missions flourished as thriving communities between 1745 and the 1780's. The San Antonio River provided the communities living within the mission compounds with drinking water and crop irrigation. The new mission portals will illustrate and enlighten visitors about how the river sustained these populations.

"Our river's life-giving and life-affirming qualities are the main reasons that the missions and our city were created here. It is the stories of the river and the missions that will inspire the designs of these portals and harmoniously connect the two," said Mike Addkison, project director for the River Foundation.

In addition to Mission Portals, the River Foundation is positioned to raise funds for additional enhancements along this stretch, such as:

• Pocket parks that connect neighborhoods to the river
• Larger parks that feature play areas, waterscapes, butterfly gardens, and community gardens that promote ecology and conservation
• Sustainable demonstration projects that feature solar energy/water harvesting
• Beautiful and inspiring public art, pedestrian bridges, art benches, and pavilions.