Trees clean the air we breathe

It’s been said that trees are the lungs of our planet. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen for humans to breathe.

They are also the kidneys–absorbing rain and slowly releasing it into the ground–and the heart of our planet–providing habitat for birds, insects, animals, lichen, fungi and more.

Thanks to the brainchild of former Mayor Henry Cisneros, San Antonio’s Southeast Side will house a 185-acre museum of trees, known as an arboretum, so that San Antonio’s citizens and visitors may develop a greater appreciation for our leafy friends.

From Golf Course to Green Space

The site, the former Republic Golf Course not far off of Interstate 37 along Salado Creek, was purchased in November of 2023. It will eventually connect to more than 100 miles of the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System, the emerald necklace that encircles San Antonio.

The property is adjacent to 32 acres of parkland owned by the City of San Antonio and 18 acres of Bexar County parkland, bringing the grand total to 235 acres of green space for visitors to enjoy.

Education, Empowerment and Environmental Restoration

The Arboretum will provide a space for visitors to learn about the indigenous people who inhabited this land and to gain a greater appreciation for the role that trees play in the health of our planet.

CEO and President Adriana Quiñones and Director of Operations and Facilities Juan Lopez are currently focused on raising funds and recruiting volunteers to implement the Arboretum’s ambitious master plan. If all goes well, the Arboretum will be fully open to the public in 2028.

Fall 2026 public events

Meanwhile, visitors can get a sneak peek of the Arboretum at a variety of events, including Yoga under the Trees, a Texas Pollinator Bio Blitz, An Evening Under the Oaks, Invasive Species Removal, Autumn and Holiday in the Park Vendor Markets and a Christmas Bird Count. Visit the Arboretum’s website for more information.

The Arboretum is located at 4226 SE Military Drive. Please follow them on Facebook and/or Instagram to stay in the loop for their upcoming events.

Thanks to Mayor Cisneros’ vision, San Antonio is close to having its own “Cathedral of Trees” (his words). As the Native American proverb states, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. So that you never miss a post, follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist. 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!