Madison Square Park is definitely off the beaten track. Nestled in downtown San Antonio near the Baptist Medical Center, this 5-acre park doesn’t have the visibility of other downtown parks, like Travis and Milam. I predict it won’t be on the lowdown for very long, though. Madison Square Park has something for everyone: walking trails, a children’s playground, fitness equipment, picnic tables and a dog park.
On the day I was there, some park visitors sat on benches, enjoying the beautiful day. A mom and dad pushed a stroller carrying their child. Kids played on the playground. Dogs frolicked while their owners chatted. One of the dog owners lives in the adjacent Cadillac Lofts across Dallas Street. She said the dog park gets packed after 5 p.m. with downtown dwellers and their pooches.
Just across Camden Street is Madison Square Presbyterian Church, which has overlooked the park since 1882. The church’s Gothic Revival architecture stands out among the more modern buildings nearby. According to the historical marker in front, the church helped Trinity University move from Waxahachie to San Antonio in 1942. Madison Square Presbyterian Church’s mission is to be “a community that is open and welcoming to all people, without regard for nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status.”
Madison Square Park, within walking distance of the Interstate 35/McCullough at Quincy Starbucks, is located at 400 Lexington. On VIA’s #7 Sightseer Special route, it’s open from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily. Grab a cup of coffee before heading over to the park to sit, sip and watch the world go by.
Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!
This park is right down the street from one of my favorite hotels to stay at when I come to San Antonio to visit. Since the hotel is right on the Museum portion of the Riverwalk, the park is the perfect location for those that travel with dogs. I’m not one of those people, but I could certainly see the appeal for those that do.
Laura, I had the same thought! Not only is the park great for dog owners who live downtown, but it’s also great for dog owners who are visiting San Antonio. Speaking of staying on the Museum Reach of the River Walk, have you tried Ocho at the Havana or Happy Hour at the Tower? I did a post on both not too long ago. Here’s a visual archive of all my posts: http://www.pinterest.com/dbrsat/viva-san-antonio/ Happy travels in San Antonio! Cheers, Denise
How delightful to highlight this much overlooked gem, Denise. The city seems to have spiffed it up a lot and made it a most desirable and functional green space. I will plan to include it (and Ocho) in my coming visit.
Thanks, Susan. I think you’re going to need to stay longer than a week! Cheers, Denise
I have been driving by this park and wondered about it. I didn’t even know what it was called. It seems to sweet and welcoming. Thanks for filling us in. Now that spring is here (yay!), I’ll check it out on one of my many downtown runs!
Shari, Let’s meet for a coffee at Starbucks and walk over for a visit! Say when. Thanks for reading/commenting. Cheers, Denise