Shavano Park Salado Creek Greenway Trail Access: Funding and Plans
October 15, 2026
October 15, 2026
Shavano Park plans to spend $170,000 on a short concrete trail from the end of Cliffside Drive down to the Salado Creek Greenway. Property taxes are not covering it. The money comes from a city fund fed mostly by billboard sub-leases. The same fund pays for the city events on the City Hall lawn this fall and for the text alerts that announce them. Contractor bids for the trail open at City Hall on Friday, October 16.
The account is called the Community Enhancement & Engagement Fund. In the proposed FY2026–27 budget it expects $127,500 in billboard sub-leasing revenue plus $7,500 in donations for city events. The city's hike-and-bike project page says the trail is paid for with "non-property tax revenues" collected in this fund.
Here is how the proposed budget spends it:
| Line item | Proposed amount |
|---|---|
| Cliffside access to Salado Creek Greenway, 6-foot concrete nature trail with security fencing and gate | $170,000 |
| Five city-sponsored events | $30,950 |
| Employee overtime at those events | $23,350 |
| Fiesta Medals for the community | $4,800 |
| Text-based communication service | $3,600 |
| Citywide cleanup events | $2,500 |
| Starting an "Avenue of Heroes" | $1,000 |
| Transfer to the Capital Replacement Fund | $50,000 |
The trail line alone is $42,500 more than a full year of projected billboard revenue. It is the largest single item in the fund, well above the $54,300 that the five events and their overtime cost combined. Council passed the budget on first reading September 14 and put the final reading on its September 21 agenda. As of this writing, the city has not posted minutes from that final vote.
The trail runs 400 feet and drops 20 feet in elevation, from 914 to 894. The average grade is 5% to 6%, with one short stretch near Cliffside at 11% to 12%. The route stays at least 30 feet from nearby homes. Engineers found it needs no switchbacks or extra safety rails to meet ADA accessibility standards.
The design reflects resident input. The city held a town hall on March 18, 2026, with 62 attendees and 42 online survey responses afterward. Three options were on the table:
Option B drew 54.76% support. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended it to City Council on April 1. That width means the connector will be narrower than the trail it joins. The city's own comparison puts a 10-foot trail at the same width as the Salado Creek Greenway, a "shared-use path" where cyclists and walkers can pass each other safely. A 6-foot trail matches most roadside sidewalks. The concrete would be tinted light brown to blend with the forest floor, with a brushed, rock-salt finish for better grip in wet weather. Under the plan, a 300-foot wrought-iron fence would run along Cliffside to the point where the terrain becomes impassable. Power is available within 90 feet of the proposed gate, so the gate could have built-in access controls. All three town hall options included the fence and gate, with a stated preference for limiting access to Shavano Park residents.
Council took no action at its April 27 meeting. The minutes record Mayor Werner saying the item "was discussion only and no action was taken." The project moved forward through the budget instead. The trail page still says there is no timetable. The newer city bids page gives a more current picture. Under RFP-2026-004, the city wants a contractor to build "a 400 linear foot concrete nature trail connecting Cliffside Drive to the Salado Creek Greenway," designed to the U.S. Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines. Contractors were required to attend one of two pre-bid meetings at the trail site. Weather on October 1 pushed the second meeting to October 5.
The rest of the year brings the trail decision and the events this fund pays for:
The trail page says the best way to follow the project is to text COSP EVENTS to 91896. That alert service is the $3,600 text line in the same budget.
The Cliffside trail is the second outdoor project the city has taken on in two years. Unlike the trail, the first one drew on outside money. De Zavala Road between Lockhill-Selma and NW Military was rebuilt with a $4 million federal earmark, secured with support from U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales (TX-23). J3 Company was the contractor, and work started July 14, 2025. The city declared the road substantially complete on July 30, 2026. The 25 mph work-zone limit ended at noon that day, and the normal 35 mph limit returned.
The city's De Zavala project page lists four main parts of the project:
The overflow parking ties the road to the City Hall lawn. On June 10, Council unanimously approved Change Order #9, which uses $34,800 of 2022 bond money to turn 870 feet of the Municipal Tract trail into ADA concrete sidewalk. The new concrete runs from the overflow lot to the De Zavala sidewalk. The Municipal Tract already had a pavilion, playground and nature trails, built in 2020–2021. Residents can reserve the City Pavilion and the grounds around it, which include an outdoor grill behind City Hall and nearby restrooms. The Trunk-or-Treat and the Holiday Festival both take place on this lawn.
Federal and bond money paid for the road and the sidewalk link. Billboard revenue pays for the events on the lawn and, if the budget is adopted as proposed, the Greenway connector.
One nearby change affects drivers heading out of town. On September 14, the eastbound I-10 entrance ramp south of the Loop 1604 interchange closed permanently as part of the Loop 1604 North Expansion. KSAT reported that drivers on the eastbound frontage road can now continue past UTSA Boulevard and Hausman Road and get on the main lanes south of Hausman.
At the west end of De Zavala, Teso Life's Northwest Side store at University Square was still busy in May, according to MySA. A Wonder restaurant is planned for 5230 De Zavala Road, Suite 204. Its state filing estimated completion on October 10, but San Antonio Current reported in June that permitting delays had pushed the timeline back and no opening date had been given.
Three things about the trail are still unsettled. The city has not posted the September 21 budget vote, has not named a contractor, and has not set a construction start date. The bid opening on October 16 will be the first sign of whether the project fits within its $170,000 budget.
City projects like the Greenway connector and the rebuilt De Zavala corridor help shape how buyers see a neighborhood. The Lisa Guzman Group keeps track of these changes across Shavano Park so our pricing advice reflects them. If you'd like to know what your home is worth with these projects underway, Get Your Free Home Valuation.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
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