For six years, in commemoration of National Public Lands Day, Texas Public Radio has teamed with San Antonio Federal Credit Union, San Antonio Water System, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. and area volunteers to beautify one of our city's public spaces through water-saving measures.

As the hallmark of our yearly Focus on the Environment, our annual xeriscape projects serve to promote water conservation through eco-friendly landscaping techniques. The results have been several radical transformations of area parks and libraries.

Our annual National Public Land's Day project began with our planting in San Pedro Springs Park in 2001. Other xeriscaping efforts have included the 2002 colorization of Woodlawn Lake Park; the 2003 installation of lush, water-friendly greenery in the center of Madison Square Park; the 2004 xeriscape tranformation of the Cortez Library on San Antonio's south side; the 2005 beautification of the Ewing Halsell outdoor classroom at the Julia Yates Semmes Library in Comanche Peak Park; and the 2006 landscaping of the entrance of O.P. Schnabel park on the city's northwest side.

Six years, six committed efforts to beautify the valued public spaces in our community.

And the work continues…

The seventh recipient of our annual National Public Lands Day efforts is the historic Brackenridge Park. On Saturday, September 29th, we will converge on the newly constructed east and south entrances of Brackenridge to promote water convservation and transform a celebrated public space. We invite you to join TPR, SACU and SAWS at 8 am to participate in this family–friendly event. Information on volunteering is available on our Focus on the Environment page.

Texas Public Radio has compiled a pictorial history of our previous xeriscape projects. To explore how our efforts have evolved, select a public space below.