In a bid to be awarded $1.2 million for the construction of a trailhead connecting Shavano Park to the Salado Creek Greenway, Shavano Park city officials presented a plan Aug. 1 to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, AAMPO, as part of the organization’s fiscal year 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program, TIP.

The TIP serves as a blueprint for investment in transportation construction and improvement projects over a four-year period.

The overview

According to city documents, the proposed project aims to increase pedestrian and bicyclist access to Salado Creek Greenway. The project would construct a trailhead at the intersection of Saddletree Road and Northwest Military Highway, which would connect to an existing bike lane and trail that runs along Northwest Military Highway.

Project scope includes:

  • A 5-foot bike path approximately 2,057-linear-feet long, connecting Cliffside Drive to Northwest Military Highway
  • A 10-foot concrete trail approximately 3,254-linear feet long, connecting Cliffside Drive to Salado Creek Greenway
  • A parking lot at trailhead
  • Amenities at trailhead, including bike racks and water fountains

Additionally, Shavano Park is constructing sidewalks and bike lanes along De Zavala Road that will provide a safe route to the proposed trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. The new trailhead would also address a lack of parking between the Loop 1604 and Huebner Road greenway entrances.

“It’s not a Shavano Park solution, something solely for our citizens,” Shavano Park Mayor Bob Werner said during the presentation. “It is a solution that serves that central-north core of San Antonio and the surrounding areas.”

Bill Hill, city manager of Shavano Park, said the project would not require extensive construction.

“The engineering on this project is not complex,” Hill said. “There’s no right away or other acquisitions we need to do. Utility conflicts are minimal. It’s almost shovel ready.”

The outlook

According to AAMPO documents, the Shavano Park Trail Connection ranked third out of 47 submitted projects and first in the transportation alternatives category during the public feedback phase of the process.

During public feedback sessions, top comments related to the project emphasized the need for a safer route to the Salado Creek Greenway due to the dangerous conditions around Northwest Military Highway, and the Loop 1604 and Huebner greenway entrances.

The conditions

Hill said that Shavano Park is willing to commit 20% local funding to the project and to pay for all engineering costs. However, he noted that the major roadblock to this project is available funding.

“This project is within the vision of the goals of mobility… and the only thing we’ve lacked is funding,” Hill said.

Additionally, the project would help fulfill part of the city’s 2018 and 2023 master plans, which seeks to improve connectivity throughout Shavano Park.

Looking ahead

The AAMPO will approve the TIP projects in spring 2026.

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