Help Us Beautify An Historic East Side Park

For nine years, in commemoration of National Public Lands Day, Texas Public Radio xeriscaped or beautified a park, library or natural area in and around San Antonio. We are proud to have parterned with SACU, one of San Antonio's oldest and largest credit unions, San Antonio Water System, and San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, and area volunteers to beautify one of our city's public spaces.

As the hallmark of our yearly Focus on the Environment, this National Public Lands Day project serves to promote the beauty of our city’s public and natural spaces. The results have been several radical transformations of area parks and libraries through water-saving measures and the restoration of natural vegetation.

The recipient of the 10th annual National Public Land's Day Project is Dignowity Park on the city's east side. We are happy to partner with the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association to help beautify this space in this historic neighborhood. Dozens of volunteers are needed to plant drought-resistant vegetation as we xeriscape the park to beautify the space and promote water-saving landscaping techniques.

Join us for a family fun-filled day of community service. Breakfast will be provided. All volunteers receive a free T-shirt. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, however, volunteers age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

About Dignowity Park

Dignowity Park is east of downtown on "Dignowity Hill" — land once owned by Dr. Anthony M. Dignowity, a Czech immigrant who made San Antonio his home in 1846. He stopped in San Antonio on his way to fight in the U.S.-Mexican War, and stayed after seeing that the city needed a doctor. Dr. Dignowity became a prominent physician and invested in real estate, mainly on the city's east side.

In 1854, he and his wife, Amanda, built a large stone house on the highest hill east of town, naming it "Harmony House." Like many San Antonians, Dr. Dignowity opposed slavery and was nearly killed by Confederates. He spent the Civil War years away from Texas, and then returned to San Antonio where he died in 1875. Amanda Dignowity continued to sell real estate and live in Harmony House until her death in 1907. After the property was acquired for a City park, the house was demolished in 1926.

The land was not formally dedicated as a park, however, and was sold in 1948 for construction of Baptist Memorial Hospital. Three years later, the city repurchased it, and in 1952, the land was finally dedicated for "park and recreation purposes only" and officially named Dignowity Park.

The park is the site of the annual Dignowity Hill Push Cart Derby, a community-building activity designed to bring focus to the San Antonio's east side.

Other San Antonio National Public Lands Day Projects

7th Annual Graffiti Wipeout Volunteer Days
Over 500 trees will be planted at 3 different parks, litter will be removed from parks and public/private property, and graffiti will be removed from parks, drainage channels, retaining walls, etc.

Contact: Lisa McKenzie
Agency: City of San Antonio
Phone: (210) 207-5430
On the Web: www.sanantonio.gov/graffiti
Location: citywide | San Antonio, Texas 78204
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-11
Alternative End Date: 2010-09-25

Canyon Lake
Trail maintenance, beach beautification, shoreline clean-up, painting, plant trees, lake and river clean-up.

Contact: Samuell Price
Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Phone: (830) 964-3341
On the Web: www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/canyon/Volunteer/volnews.asp
Location: 601 C.O.E. Rd | Canyon Lake, Texas 78133
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-17
Alternative End Date: 2010-09-18

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
(1)Repair bike trail that leads to San Antonio River. (2) Clear Volunteer RV Lot (3) Clean up a portion of the the Hike and Bike trial near Historic Espada Dam

Contact: Robert Espinosa
Agency: National Park Service
Phone: (210) 923-0650 ext.16
On the Web: www.nps.gov/saan
Location: 2202 Roosevelt Ave. | San Antonio, Texas 78210
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