By Edmond Ortiz
Bicyclists and hiking enthusiasts now have new destinations at north San Antonio parks where they can enjoy their hobbies
What you should know
The city’s parks and recreation and public works departments held a March 18 ceremony to formally open The Grove, a new mountain bike flow trail at McAllister Park.
Located adjacent to the dog park off Buckhorn Road, The Grove is a self-contained cycling course that spans the length of two football fields, and weaves through preserved trees.
The paths are suitable for cyclists of various ages and skills, from the beginner-friendly Lil’ Branch to the more advanced Big Branch.
City representatives thanked local cycling groups such as Friends of McAllister Park, San Antonio, TX and STORM South Texas Off Road Mountain-Bikers for offering tips in the design of The Grove, as well as with planting cactus gardens.
The Grove at McAllister Park is one of six bike projects being funded by the city’s 2022 bond. The city will hold another ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony at 10 a.m. March 28 at the new O.P. Schnabel Bike Park at 9701 Rochelle Drive.
That new course at the Northwest Side park will feature mountain bike jump lines for differently skilled riders, much like the one at McAllister Park. The O.P. Schnabel Bike Park is situated near the Mac Wylie Driving Range, in the eastern segment of the park.
In the Stone Oak area, the city recently unveiled the Sotol Descent Trail at Classen–Steubing Ranch Park.
This is a natural surface trail designed for hiking, not for biking or skateboarding, city representatives said.
The Sotol Descent Trail is part of a series of ongoing recreational amenities that the city is developing in the public part of Classen-Steubing Ranch Park, including other trails, sports field elements, and parking space.
What they are saying
Alicia Luna, natural areas manager with the city’s parks and recreation department, explains in a city-produced promotional video that the city is gradually improving the public portion of Classen-Steubing Ranch Park; the park land still contains city-owned property that is off limits to development.
“On a natural service trail, you get into a nice ebb and flow, and you really get to feel like you’re being embraced by nature more than on a concrete trail,” Luna said.
Matthew Whitby, nature preserve officer with the city’s parks and recreation department, appears in the same city promotional video.
Whitby said while land on the far North Side tends to be more rocky and hilly than land on the east and south sides of town, it gives the city an opportunity to design an adventurous trail.
“Some rocks are bigger than others. Sometimes you have to go around it. Sometimes you can go through it,” Whitby said in the video. “You’re going to want to give (visitors) a challenge. You want to give them views. You’re going to want to give them destinations, and I think those are really three big things designing a trail.”
