Volunteers to Restore Historic Dairy Barn

Volunteers with the Associated General Contractors’ Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) will begin tomorrow, Saturday, March 19 a two-year-long community service project to restore the nineteenth century dairy barn at Phil Hardberger Park.

The barn was built in 1896 as part of the Voelcker farmstead and will be the first of several heritage structures restored as part of the park’s master plan. Approximately 25 members of the CLF will spend the morning cleaning up the site in preparation for a “Barn Raising” fundraiser scheduled for May 14th to help pay for any materials that aren’t donated.

“CLF has a history of community service projects, but this is probably our most ambitious one yet,” said Zac Harris, chairman of the CLF, AGC’s young professionals group. “It just has all the elements important to ACG: honoring our cultural heritage, creating educational opportunities for school kids and supporting public parks.”

The approximately 1500 square foot dairy barn will be restored to its original state. Rotted wood will be replaced, and 25-30 windows, many of which have been boarded up, will be repaired, but the existing structure will remain intact. CLF and Fisher Heck Architects are working with the City of San Antonio’s Historic Preservation Office to ensure that the restoration allows the building to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
“We want kids to walk in and feel like they’ve stepped back in time,” said Harris. “We envision a working farm with live cows — a place where we can all connect with our cultural heritage and better understand San Antonio’s original settlements.”

In her 2010 book, Last Farm Standing on Buttermilk Hill: Voelcker Roots Run Deep in Hardberger Park, author Gayle Brennan Spencer writes that the dairy barn was “the most important structure on the Voelcker Farm,” one of many family farms located in an area she calls “dairy land” between Loops 410 and 1604. Roads such as Jones-Maltsberger, Isom, Sandau and Coker Lane were all named for the family farms to which they led.

“The restoration of the dairy barn will provide a glimpse into what daily life was like for hardworking farmers in the area known as Buttermilk Hill,” said Spencer. “Twice a day, 365 days a year, Max and Minnie would herd their cows into the barn for milking. And, in the days before refrigeration, milking was only the beginning of the process required to make a marketable product. The adjacent rooms probably were used to separate the milk into cream, which does not spoil as easily, and to laboriously churn butter to deliver to city-dwellers.”

Former Mayor Phil Hardberger led the city’s effort to purchase the property from the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund as part of an overall effort to increase acreage and accessibility to city parks. The acquisition and development of the former dairy farm into a world class park was the signature project among the 69 parks projects included in the 2007 Bond Program. A master plan completed by the team of Stephen Stimson and Associates and D.I.R.T Studio calls for up to $57 million worth of improvements, including trails, sporting fields, a dog park, a land bridge over Wurzbach Pkwy, Urban Ecology Center and rehabilitation of the Heritage Homestead, including the dairy barn and an 1800s farmhouse on the property. Phase 1A of the north side park opened in 2010 and Phase 2 will open May 21, 2011.

“I am so looking forward to the restoration of the dairy barn,” said Hardberger, who is currently chairman of the board of the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy. “It brings back many early morning memories of milking the cows every day on the farm where I grew up. We are all indebted to the AGC CLF volunteers who are making this restoration possible. They are preserving a part of San Antonio history.”

The Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund is donating proceeds from the sale of Last Farm Standing to the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy. According to its mission statement, Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy will advocate renewal, recreation and learning through nature in an urban setting. The conservancy will ensure all park development will be in accordance with the master plan and will enhance a sustainable natural landscape for future generations.

Readers Recommend Dog Park

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For February 2011, FIDOFriendly.com polled readers on top Dog Friendly Destinations. No surprise to us, Phil Hardberger Park is included with selected parks that rate as “…Paradise for pooches and people who like the great outdoors.”

"Texas Katy with Teeny’s Friends says her pawsome dog place is Phil Hardburger Park. “This fenced-in park includes an actual two-story doggy playhouse, several agility ramps, water fountains, picnic tables and benches for pet parents!”

We're not resting on our laurels! Stay tuned for more dog friendly improvements.

The Next Phase of the Park

The May 15 grand opening of Phil Hardberger Park, including the mile and a half of hiking trails, playscape and the city's largest dog park, was just the beginning of the former dairy farm's transformation into a world-class park. A new phase of the park is expected to open in each of the next five years.

This is not to say that the entire 311-acre property will be developed; rather, 75 percent of it will remain what the Master Plan calls "cultivated wild" -- native Texas landscape that has been carefully restored.

This month the City of San Antonio will begin construction on Phase 1B, which includes a number of new features on the existing eastern side of the park adjacent to Blanco Road, as well as the first amenities on the western edge of the property off NW Military Highway.

On the Blanco Road side, a new Salado Creek Classroom will front the parking lot and will include permanent restrooms, offices and a classroom for teaching about nature and the history of the park. This will be the first of several outdoor classrooms "embedded within the landscape mosaic to allow proximity to the native landscape," according to the Master Plan, designed by Stephen Stimson Associates and D.I.R.T. Studio. As you can see from this rendering, courtesy of the Stimson team, the pavilion will straddle the trail.

Plans also call for an overlook located near the historic farmstead off Voelcker Lane. This "perch that connects the park to the city's ecosystem, both natural and cultural" will give visitors a birds-eye view of Salado Creek from the top of a wooded bluff. The City will also add another trail, near the existing dog park, which will connect Blanco Road to the Geology Loop and Water Loop Trails.

On the NW Military side, there will be another playground ("And if you think the one off Blanco is cool, this will be super-cool," says Sandy Jenkins, of the City's Parks and Recreation Department), basketball courts, multi-purpose sports fields and BBQ grills. There will be an entrance and parking lot off of NW Military.

The $1.7 million Phase 1B project is being funded by a $1 million Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and matching funds from the City. Construction should begin mid-July with an expected completion date of fall 2011.

Prairie Restoration

In keeping with the park’s master plan, the City of San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department is restoring grasslands in the park.

While the 311-acre property features many native trees, there are virtually no native grasses — less than 1 percent, according to a plant survey conducted as part of the master plan.

The property had been overgrazed by livestock during its more than 100 years as a working dairy farm, and non-native species such as Ranch Bluestem Grass and Bermuda Grass have dominated ever since.

As former Mayor Phil Hardberger said during the park’s May 15 grand opening ceremonies, the plan is to create oak savannas, which are clearings among the oak trees where understory and groundcover of native plants, grasses and wildflowers can re-establish themselves, allowing visitors of the park to experience what the land was like more than a century ago. Native grasslands also support wildlife, so the restoration is a critical element to rebuilding natural ecosystems.

The City has established three acres of test plots, which they will study to learn the most efficient restoration methods for elsewhere in the park (as well as other properties throughout the city). City staff spread wildflower seeds in September and October of last year, and these photos are result of their effort.

For those of you interested in the science behind the restoration, Leonard provides further explanation:

“Half of the plots were sprayed with inoculating microbes (good bacteria and fungi) on May 7th. The inoculants came from soil in native grasslands in the Hill Country and was mixed with organic fertilizers and organic compost. The idea is to see how the grasses and wildflowers respond to these inoculants and fertilizers and whether future grassland restoration projects would benefit from this type of application.

Soil samples from the plots were taken in February and sent off for analysis. The amount of nutrients as well as bacteria and fungi were tested. The will give us a good baseline to compare with future soil samples. A second round of soil sampling will be conducted in the fall to see if the sprayed inoculants increased the amount of nutrients, bacteria, and fungi in the soil.

Additionally, Dr. Kelly Lyons with Trinity University brought her class out to the grassland plots April 28th to get baseline data for the plants before the inoculants were sprayed. This survey will be completed again in the fall to see if the inoculants sprayed made any difference in plant growth and response. We hope to have enough data by then to possibly present at the Texas Society for Ecological Restoration conference in the fall.”

Tails of the Trails

June 5, 2010 – Thanks to the Lackland Air Force Base dog trainers who brought police dogs to demonstrate what they are trained to do.

Many Happy Returns to Hardberger Park

The best measure of the May 15 grand opening of Phil Hardberger Park may have been a question overheard from a little boy as his family was leaving the playground.

“Mom, can we come back next week?” the boy asked his mother.

"We sure can,” answered Kathy Thomas.

That type of exchange is what the park’s namesake envisioned when he led the City of San Antonio’s effort to buy the former dairy farm.

“If you didn’t make it out here today, don’t worry,” former Mayor Phil Hardberger said at the grand opening ceremony, “you’ll have the next several hundred years to enjoy it.”

Hardberger put the day in historical context, comparing the estimated 2,500 people who attended the grand opening to the crowd that gathered 111 years ago for the opening of Brackenridge Park. At 311 acres, Hardberger Park is second in size only to Brackenridge among city parks, which opened in 1899.

“Nature endures. People don’t,” he said. “Even Central Park, as tremendous a resource as it is to New York City, is only 850 acres. This park is truly a gift to the people of San Antonio.”

The initial Phase 1A includes 1.5 miles of trails, which connect to the Salado Creek Greenway; a treelined parking lot made of permeable crushed granite; a 1.8 acre dog park -- the city’s largest -- with separate sections for large and small dogs and an elaborate two-story doghouse; a large play scape with a rubberized surface; picnic facilities; and an oak savanna restoration pilot project.

Of course, the work is now just beginning. Phase 1A amounts to only 1/5th of the park; the plan is to open another phase of the park each of the next five years. The City of San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department will execute the concepts in the park’s master plan and the Hardberger Park Conservancy will raise private money to support the city’s effort. Phil and Linda Hardberger have already kicked it off with a $100,000 contribution.

Weathered the Storm

More than a few Conservancy board members commented on the seemingly miraculous work of Xavier Urrutia’s Parks and Recreation Department staff to prepare the park for the grand opening despite the torrential rain the day before. More than 100 city employees worked in the rain all day Friday preparing the park for the big weekend.

They swept mud from the trails with push brooms, mulched low lying areas and hauled away brush. They also finished installing agility equipment in the dog park and the fence separating the large and small dog areas. By the time the clouds parted Saturday morning, those same staffers were decked out in matching green shirts, smiling brightly and welcoming visitors to the park.

“I’ve never been more impressed by city staff,” said Conservancy Director Betty Sutherland. “Whatever needed to be done, they did it.”

In addition to Urrutia, Assistant City Manager Sharon De La Garza, Assistant Director Edward Benavides, Special Project Manager Sandy Jenkins, Assistant Parks Manager Eric Lautzenheiser, Nature Preserve Officer Gail Gallegos, Parks Operations Manager Krystal Strong and Parks Operations Manager Victor Valdez deserve a special thank you.

Moms Roll In

One of the groups now using Hardberger Park regularly is Stroller Strides of North San Antonio. Stroller Strides is a full body exercise for mothers with their children in strollers. The classes consist of intervals of power walking and muscle strengthening exercises using resistance tubing.

“We have been looking forward to using this park ever since we had our first class in May of 2008,” said Lisa DeArmond. “It is in a great location and it leads to a fantastic trail (Salado Creek Greenway), which we already utilize for our Ready To Run Program.”

Stroller Strides of North San Antonio celebrated its two year anniversary at Phil Hardberger Park on May 27. After participating in a free class, the moms were treated to cupcakes from Cupcake Couture, free coupons to Orange Cup and a parachute playdate for the kiddos.

Hardbergers donate $100,000

Standing in front of the new Hardberger Park sign on Blanco Road, Phil and Linda Hardberger presented a $100,000 check from the Phil and Linda Hardberger Foundation to Hardberger Park Conservancy Treasurer Will Kothmann to commemorate the park’s upcoming grand opening and to officially launch private fundraising efforts to support San Antonio’s newest park.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, City Manager Sheryl Sculley and members of the City Council were on hand to celebrate and later enjoyed a tour of the new park.

Phil Hardberger Park is a 311-acre natural oasis that the City of San Antonio purchased in 2006 and 2007 from the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund at a cost of nearly $47 million. Under the leadership of then Mayor Phil Hardberger, who proposed using the property to establish a world-class park, the City instituted its first-ever national competition for a master design plan and a jury later selected Stephen Stimson Associates and D.I.R.T. Studio to serve as consultants for the park’s design. After extensive community input, the City Council approved a master plan in May 2008 based on the themes of education, sustainability and ecology. To honor his extraordinary efforts, the San Antonio City Council passed an ordinance in November 2009 naming the park for former Mayor Phil Hardberger.

“San Antonio is an old city with plenty of character and charm that make it a wonderful place to live,” said Hardberger. “One thing it doesn’t have is enough green space. So, I made it a priority during my time in office to build a park where our entire community can gather to play and rest, to learn more about nature and how to protect it, and to learn the value of healthy living. Although I’m no longer Mayor, I will continue to work to ensure this park is built as quickly as possible and in a way that honors its Master Plan. Linda and I hope this contribution moves us closer to that goal and that it also inspires others to give.”

The Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy was founded by a group of dedicated citizens committed to creating a natural area park for the use of our community. It will ensure that all park development will be in accordance with the Master Plan and that the park’s amenities, including a nature center, dog park, play areas, walking, hiking and biking trails, foster an accessible and sustainable natural landscape for generations. As a non-profit, it will facilitate private fundraising efforts to assist with the development and maintenance of the park.

Phil Hardberger Park will celebrate its grand opening May 15, 2010 with a dedication ceremony and a weekend full of activities and nature walks. The first phase of construction, Phase 1A, is complete and includes 1.5 miles of trails, picnic areas, an open playground and dog park, and oak savanna restoration. Work on Phase 1B will begin immediately using nearly $2.5 million in existing City funds and a $1 million Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant awarded in August 2008. Phase 1B will include:

• Salado Creek Outdoor Classroom Pavilion, trailhead, greenway connection and overlook

• Northwest Military Hwy entrance

• Park road and parking

• One mile loop trail and outdoor education area

• Multi-purpose play field

• 2.7-acre oak savanna restoration

For more information about the park, its grand opening event or how you can join the Conservancy, contact the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy at www.PhilHardbergerPark.org.

Friday, 07 May 2010

State grants $1.75 million to local parks

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has awarded $1 million for Phil Hardberger Park and $750,000 for Mission County Park.

The Urban Indoor Recreation Grant given to San Antonio's Phil Hardberger Park will be used for the construction of a 4,000-square-foot urban ecology center to educate children and adults about the wildlife and ecosystems the exist within the city, said Krystal Strong, the park's project manager.

“It will show the relationship between residents and their environment,” Strong said.

Public meetings and planning for the building should start in the next couple months with construction beginning in a year, she said.

The grant will also fund a rainwater-harvesting system, tree planting and interpretive signs. The park is to open in November.

On the other side of the city, Mission County Park will use the state funds to establish a view corridor from the San Antonio River access point to Mission San José, a trail extension with an entry portal and overlook, interpretive signs, playgrounds, habitat restoration, additional parking and restroom renovation.