San Antonio to Build Bike Path Around Woodlawn Lake with $2 Million Grant
The City of San Antonio will move forward with plans to construct a dedicated bike path around Woodlawn Lake Park, thanks to a $2 million grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The San Antonio City Council voted Thursday to accept the funding, which will cover both the design and construction phases of the project.
District 7 City Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito expressed enthusiasm about the project during Thursday’s council meeting, stating, “With these dollars, we will finally, finally, finally have a complete bike path around Woodlawn Lake Park, which is so important because so many families ride their bikes around the park, and they’ll finally have a safe place to do this.”
The need for a dedicated bike path has been a long-standing issue for residents, appearing as early as 2002 in the Near Northwest Community Plan and again in the 2011 San Antonio Bike Plan. Currently, bike riding is prohibited on the main walking trails around the lake due to safety concerns.
The $2 million grant is part of a larger $60 million allocation from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for local parks, authorized during the last legislative session through House Bill 500. State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer highlighted the competitive nature of these grants, noting that with 181 lawmakers all seeking funding for parks in their districts, securing this allocation was a significant achievement.
“Local park grants given by the state are very competitive. We have 181 lawmakers. This allocation, this biennium, was only $60 million. Every member of the legislature wants a park grant in their district. Not everyone gets one,” Fischer told council members.
This grant complements nearly $8 million in existing improvements planned for Woodlawn Lake Park. A previous $3.2 million grant from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership, managed by the National Park Service and administered by Texas Parks and Wildlife, will contribute to park enhancements. $2 million from the city’s 2022 bond package is earmarked for the addition of 400 trees, shade structures, and a splash pad.
Woodlawn Lake Park is a heavily utilized green space in San Antonio, serving as the venue for the city’s annual 4th of July fireworks show and a Día de los Muertos fireworks display hosted by Planet K. The new bike path is expected to enhance recreational opportunities and provide a safer environment for cyclists enjoying the park’s 62 acres.
A plan proposal was released in November 2024 to gather public input on the design and features of the bike path. A timeline for the completion of the bike path was not immediately available.
