SAN ANTONIO — Howard W. Peak, the former San Antonio mayor who laid the foundation for the city's extensive greenway trail system that now carries his name, has died, family members told KENS 5. He was 75.
His cause of death is not immediately known.
Peak, an Alamo Heights High School graduate, earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Texas in Austin in 1974, according to city records. He then went on to explore urban studies and environmental management at UTSA, where he earned his master's.
He served as the Alamo City's mayor from 1997 to 2001, having successfully challenged then-Mayor William E. Thornton. Peak was coming off two terms as a member of San Antonio City Council, where he represented District 9 from 1993 to 1997.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mayor Ron Nirenberg called Peak a "visionary mayor" and "steward of the city whose kindness and gentle style belied an intense focus that leaves a permanent legacy in San Antonio."
"He understood our community in ways that escape lesser politicians, helping to usher in a modern sensibility while holding fast to the kind of neighbor-centered spirit that makes San Antonio unique among major cities," Nirenberg went on to say. "I was privileged to call him a friend, an advisor, and someone whose mission continues to influence our work. Rest in peace, Mayor Peak."
Before entering the arena of politics, Peak worked as an urban planner, most significantly as San Antonio's city planner for nearly a decade. While serving as mayor, he dreamt up the idea of surrounding the city with an emerald necklace of greenway trails, kickstarting that effort in 2000 through a series of policy directives, according to American Trails.
It's continued to pay dividends: The city now has roughly 100 miles of paved trails that make up the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System and are used by thousands daily. In 2018, the city unveiled a mosaic paying tribute to his legacy.
Among Peak's other accomplishments while in office are the creation of the city's first comprehensive water plan, the passage of a ballot measure to protect the Edwards Aquifer and the introduction of independent performance reviews for City of San Antonio departments.
After leaving office in 2001, Peak served as executive director of municipal affairs for SBC, worked with the San Antonio Parks Foundation, and also chaired the Brooks Development Authority board and citizen advisory panel for the San Antonio Water Authority.
