Saturday morning, close to a thousand people showed up to the opening ceremony for Confluence Park
It's an investment in education and fun that will reach far into the future and it is about to open in south San Antonio.
The former industrial yard has been turned into a San Antonio landmark.
Confluence Park is a three-acre, $13-million gift to kids, present, and future, and the race is on to have everything ready for next week's opening.
"We read about and hear about nature deficit disorder,” park director Frates Seeligson. “This, the park, is a way where we can get outside, reconnect with nature, still have meaningful programs and curriculum, but do it outside.”
Seeligson added that planners consulted with educators, neighbors, and many different types of design professions to make this natural wonderland something unlike anything else in the country.
"The whole park is designed around show, not tell, through representation of native plants, native habitat, solar and energy neutrality, and water catchment systems," Seeligson noted.
They hope the lessons learned will continue across the curriculum, across seasons, and across generations. There will be no fences and no gates. This is a play place for everyone that will be open to all.
"The park will grow with the community, that's what's special about it,” Seeligson said. “It's not a static thing. That's my goal, to have every experience be different but always a meaningful one."
Even though the park has not opened yet, they say the entire month of February is already booked solid for field trips for kids.
Opening day is Wednesday and they are expecting an overflow crowd.
More information about the park can be found at the official Confluence Park website here.
Here is a map of parking and shuttle instructions:
