History of the famous San Antonio River Walk


Download a map of the River Walk!

Map courtesy Paseo del Rio Association

Also known as the Paseo del Rio, the 2.5 mile stretch of beautifully landscaped, meandering waterfront is the heartbeat of the city where hotels, restaurants, night clubs, bars and shopping are the primary destination – pouring nearly $800 million a year into the local economy.

Now well-developed and cultured, it is indeed a natural waterway. Early Spanish explorers used the river to supply water to their missions – from Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) to the four remaining historic missions along the Mission Trail, south of downtown.

Floods along the river were common and city leaders often debated solutions. In 1921, architect Robert H. H. Hugman proposed a plan to retool the river into an urban park filled with dining, shopping, quiet walking areas and living spaces, similar to what he had seen in Europe. His blueprint eventually became the forerunner of today’s popular River Walk.

However, the early days of the Hugman-inspired plan did not work well. A low volume of business and high rate of crime left the area nearly abandoned by visitors and shunned by locals.

The River Walk gained popularity again during HemisFair ‘68, a 7-month world’s fair financed by public funds and through participation of local businesses and some of the nation’s leading corporations. Seeing the potential of the River Walk once again, several San Antonio business leaders formed the Paseo del Rio Association in 1969, which continues today as a force for continuous improvement, development and promotion of the River Walk.

In 2000, city leaders realized that the river had undercut its channel walls and was poised to undermine the foundations of several buildings along Paseo del Rio. The San Antonio River Improvements Project (SARIP) was initiated in January, 2001 and by October, 2002 had completed the first phase of the stabilization of the riverbed and rock-lined walls, plus added a new pocket park and public art along the existing River Walk.

The River Walk remains the heart of San Antonio’s new linear park – and in the hearts of everyone who visits its banks.