City leaders and officials from the National Park Service break ground for a new hike-and-bike path last week at Mission San Jose. Photo by Steve Valdez

By Steve Valdez
Contributing Writer

City leaders and officials from the National Park Service (NPS) recently gathered at Mission San Jose to break ground on new recreational trail connecting Mission San Jose to the city’s existing river trail along the San Antonio River.

“The Mission to River Trail” project is part of the NPS Centennial Initiative, a 10-year program to reinvigorate America’s national parks. Los Compadres de San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, the missions park friends group, raised more than $47,000 in private donations to construct the trail, and a matching Centennial Initiative federal grant, provided funding for the trail.

The new quarter-mile paved hike-and-bike path will connect to the trails along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Improvements Project, the city’s $250-million initiative to construct 13-mile linear park along the river from Hildebrand Avenue to Mission Espada. Construction should start in 2010.

“We went to the voters and asked for $125 million, and approximately $112 million is going to (South San Antonio),” said Bexar County Commissioner Nelson Wolf during the event last Thursday. “Four members of the commissioners court are either born on the South Side, or grew up on the South Side. We were getting sick and tired of it being shoved to the back.”

The Centennial Initiative was set aside by President George W. Bush to get the national parks ready for their 100th anniversary in 2016, said NPS spokeswoman Kathy Kupper.

“The government matched private funds, and this is the first project to break ground for the Centennial Initiative,” Kupper said.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff speaks before a groundbreaking at Mission San Jose for a new hike-and-bike path last week. Photo by Steve Valdez

“It’s not sufficient, but it’s a first start on a good effort and the NPS was able to provide matching funds committed from our partners from across the country,” Rodriguez said. “The ability to leverage private donations has allowed the NPS to continue its efforts to improve parks and services for all Americans especially our nation’s youth. The funds are critical for the overall development of our national parks.”

National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar returned to her adopted hometown of San Antonio to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. Bomar once once served as an assistant superintendent of San Antonio Missions National Historic Park.

“I salute President Bush, he stepped up to the plate,” Bomar said. “He didn’t want to just light 100 candles on a cake and sing happy birthday. We came together and he said ‘Let’s really celebrate the national Park Service right’ and we created the Centennial Initiative.”

Bomar said the Centennial Initiative has 112 projects this year. There are 71 parks that benefited from the initial $25 million raised in Congress this year, Bomar said.

“The $25 million, that is more than really seed money, it is a true test of our ability to develop and execute projects that have a real impact,” Bomar said. “It clearly demonstrates to Congress and the American people that we will spend their money wisely. This is not a political this is about the heritage of this country. There are special places that unite us all as Americans and national parks are those special place.“