Location San Antonio, TX
Client Arboretum San Antonio
Services Project Management
Project Value N/A
Arboretum San Antonio is a planned arboretum to be located along Salado Creek on the site of a former golf course in southeast San Antonio. In partnership with multiple public and private organizations and with direct input from more than 18,000 San Antonio residents, the Arboretum San Antonio organization envisions the new arboretum as a sprawling public space filled with native trees and other plantings, a variety of amenities and facilities, and connections to city/county parks and the regional trail system. In addition to providing space for recreational activities, community programming, and research, the 200-acre arboretum will contribute to environmental wellness by restoring natural habitats. This will help mitigate air and water pollution, reinforce South Texas’ native biodiversity, and strengthen the area’s ecological resilience. When complete, the arboretum will be the state’s second largest.
To deliver the new arboretum, the Arboretum San Antonio organization is implementing a phased approach. The first phase, potentially valued at $25 million, is expected to commence in 2028. Arboretum San Anotnio plans to complete additional work over three subsequent phases, with the full buildout anticipated to take 15 to 20 years. Arboretum San Antonio expects to open portions of the arboretum following the first phase. In time, the organization also intends to achieve arboretum accreditation for the site.
San Antonio sits at the convergence of four distinct ecoregions, Edwards Plateau, South Texas Plains, Blackland Prairie, and Post Oak Savannah, and the arboretum will feature native plantings from each to celebrate and reflect the region’s rich natural heritage. The arboretum will include nine zones, each offering a different way to engage with nature. While new plantings are expected, the project’s master plan emphasizes the preservation of the existing canopy, reducing the need for development activities and associated environmental impact. New facilities are expected to include paths and elevated walkways, research facilities, playground areas, a welcome center, event space, an amphitheater and other public gathering places, and more.
Hill is providing project management services for the implementation of the master plan. Representing the Arboretum San Antonio organization, we will serve as a project leader focused on aligning the team, budget and schedule management, risk management and mitigation, and quality assurance/quality control to help ensure that scope is delivered as planned. The Hill team will also manage contracts, manage stakeholders, manage project communications, and provide tracking and reporting to keep Arboretum San Antonio, their project team, and their stakeholders informed. Hill will implement a project management information system (PMIS) to capture project information and provide timely, actionable data, allowing Arboretum San Antonio to make informed decisions throughout the project life cycle. Our additional services will include estimating, permitting, conducting inspections, commissioning, and other management and administrative tasks as required.
