A century-and-a-half-old family ranch in northern San Antonio became the focus of a major conservation effort in June 2016, when the Classen-Steubing family agreed to sell 204 acres of largely undeveloped land to the city for a future park and protection of the Edwards Aquifer. The proposal, reported by Texas Public Radio and the San Antonio Express-News, offered an alternative to a residential development that could have brought as many as 3,500 homes and apartments to the site. The planned acquisition covered part of the historic Classen-Steubing Ranch in the Stone Oak area, one of the remaining large undeveloped tracts on San Antonio’s North Side. City officials viewed the deal as an opportunity to preserve open space while safeguarding an important source of drinking water. Scroll down to read more.
The remaining 39 acres would be covered by an option to purchase for approximately $3.79 million, with the possibility of using funding from the city’s 2017 bond programme. The overall acquisition was expected to cost close to $10 million. the smaller recreational area could accommodate sports fields, walking and cycling trails, and other park facilities While the larger section would remain predominantly natural open space. The phased approach allowed the city to begin protecting the most environmentally sensitive land while leaving the remaining purchase subject to a separate funding decision. The deal illustrated how local governments can use land acquisition to address several pressures at once: preserving a historic landscape, expanding public recreational space and protecting a vital water source as cities grow.