Hemisfair / Civic Park
Hemisfair / Civic Park
In fall of 2023, Hemisfair Civic Park opened with a bang in downtown San Antonio. This highly-anticipated urban space, which combines public park space with mixed-use development, has been called “perhaps the most ambitious development in San Antonio’s history when you consider the cost, scale and location.”
The new Civic Park is the setting for festivals, concerts, and community celebrations, as well as water features and plazas that will soon be activated by new restaurants, retail and hotels.
Phil’s role was to facilitate the public in creating a guiding vision and space program that provided the direction for subsequent design. GGN’s design developed this vision into one of the most remarkable water features in America, building on the local Texas tradition of cooling off at a local creek. “The Springs” water feature is painstakingly made of limestone quarried nearby and promises to become as iconic to summer in San Antonio as Barton Springs is to Austin.
Civic Park builds on the success of Hemisfair’s other park, Yanaguana Garden, which opened to the public in 2015. Yanaguana is now the second most frequented park per acre in Texas and, with the addition of Civic Park, Hemisfair has potential to quickly become #1 in Texas.
Phil’s work visioning and programming both of these park spaces was intended to blend kids’ environments with destinations for adults and families. By doing so, we create a rich community destination loved by all ages and frequented at all times of day and into the evening.
In fall of 2023, Hemisfair Civic Park opened with a bang in downtown San Antonio. This highly-anticipated urban space, which combines public park space with mixed-use development, has been called “perhaps the most ambitious development in San Antonio’s history when you consider the cost, scale and location.”
The new Civic Park is the setting for festivals, concerts, and community celebrations, as well as water features and plazas that will soon be activated by new restaurants, retail and hotels.
Phil’s role was to facilitate the public in creating a guiding vision and space program that provided the direction for subsequent design. GGN’s design developed this vision into one of the most remarkable water features in America, building on the local Texas tradition of cooling off at a local creek. “The Springs” water feature is painstakingly made of limestone quarried nearby and promises to become as iconic to summer in San Antonio as Barton Springs is to Austin.
Civic Park builds on the success of Hemisfair’s other park, Yanaguana Garden, which opened to the public in 2015. Yanaguana is now the second most frequented park per acre in Texas and, with the addition of Civic Park, Hemisfair has potential to quickly become #1 in Texas.
Phil’s work visioning and programming both of these park spaces was intended to blend kids’ environments with destinations for adults and families. By doing so, we create a rich community destination loved by all ages and frequented at all times of day and into the evening.
