Photo by Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D.
San Antonio, the seventh largest city in the United States, gives visitors and residents ample opportunity to connect with nature and improve their health.
Emerald Necklace
In addition to all of the city’s and county’s parks, the Howard W. Peak Greenway trail system just announced that it has completed 100 miles of the “emerald necklace” that will eventually encircle the entire city. You may stroll, walk, rollerblade, run or bicycle your way to better health, thanks to the vision of a former mayor, Howard Peak, and funding from San Antonio’s taxpayers!
Since March 2020 and the onset of #PandemicLife, San Antonio’s green spaces provided those of us with cabin fever a safe space to experience life outside of our homes. Turns out, nature is good for us.
Forest Bathing
“Back in the early 1990s the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries coined the term Shinrin-yoku — which translates roughly as forest bathing.” Jaunts in nature help boost our immunity and improve our mood.
Over the past 12 years, I’ve featured more than 30 green spaces on this blog. I hope the following posts inspire you to explore our beautiful city and to connect with nature in 2023. I also encourage you to download the iNaturalist app before you head out to help document flora and fauna in our neck of the woods.
What’s your favorite green space in San Antonio? Please leave your suggestion(s) below.
Here’s to our improved immune systems and health! ¡Viva San Antonio!
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!
Green Spaces in San Antonio
Crownridge Canyon Natural Area
Government Canyon State Natural Area
Olmos Park and Olmos Sports Complex
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto of the Southwest
Salado Creek Greenway (Loop 410 to Lady Bird Johnson Park)
Salado Creek Greenway (McAllister Park to Lady Bird Johnson Park)
Salado Creek Greenway (Robert L.B. Tobin Park to Oakwell Trailhead)
Salado Creek Greenway (Jack White Park to Willow Springs Golf Course)
Salado Creek Greenway (Walker Ranch to Hardberger East)
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!
I thought the Howard W. Peak Greenway trail system was called the “Emerald Necklace” rather than the Green Necklace. I hope it gets completed by 2040!
I think it is! I’ll correct it. Thanks! I’m thrilled that San Antonio has a greenway trail system that encourages folks to connect with nature.
I usually call the trail system an “emerald necklace.”
Such happy news to conclude my day. I hope to experience more of the trail while I’m in SA in May 😄