On RiverWalk Park, a site occupied for years by SAWS, in the center of the Downtown River Bend, the placement of a 60-foot-diameter water tank, numerous wells and the Arneson River Theater prevented a continuous RiverWalk link through the area for years. Previous designs took a more intrusive over-land path, or proposed a suspended walkway into the river, and across the stage of the theater. Our design solution allows a link along the river, with an overlook into La Villita. The well heads and other existing utilities became an opportunity for public artists to coordinate solutions with the design of safety elements and visual screening.

The functional aspects of the project were solved- an accessible link was created along the entire RiverWalk. Perhaps more importantly, the most utilitarian elements of the project became integrated with a beautiful green environment. One in which the user is provided with an interesting and enhanced experience. This will be particularly important in the design of the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River.

Four wells and a major pumping station for SAWS, the municipal water utility, occupy the only section of the San Antonio River Bend where the walkway was not continuous on both banks. The Park wanted to complete the walkway in this section. Together with 3D/I we created a master plan for the Park that completes the walkway, utilizing site planning and architectural design services. The new walkway is curvilinear, rose-colored patterned concrete ramps and walks, fully ADA-compliant, that hug the embankment, ascending from RiverWalk level at each end to a street level section near the center of the Park. Our plan demolished existing retaining walls and stairs, cut down the embankment wall to correspond to the slope of the walkway and reconstructed a historic curving stairway. The new retaining walls are curvilinear, of plastered concrete or rubble stone, creating planted terraces, some of which are planted with palm trees to screen SAWS water tanks. An eight-foot ornamental steel fence now secures water wells and pumping infrastructure and creates an enclosed work and maintenance area for SAWS.