In 2021, our Founder, Henry Cisneros, wrote an Op-Ed in the San Antonio Report making the case for an Arboretum on the South Side of San Antonio. As Henry describes it, “An arboretum is a special category of park featuring the trees that grow in a region. Trees are spaced along paths or encircle open meadows in ways that invite admiration, study, and repose”. One year later, we assembled a highly engaged board of directors and an informed set of subject matter expert advisors to guide our vision of a world-class Arboretum for San Antonio.  

In the fall of 2023, we embarked on a meticulous master planning firm selection process. We issued a Request for Qualification, followed by a Request for Proposal. After careful consideration of 18 highly qualified proposals, the Arboretum San Antonio Board of Directors chose Sasaki as our partner firm, along with a robust local team of consultants.

Together, we will embark on a one-year master planning process, engaging our community in envisioning and building an arboretum that truly reflects San Antonio and South Texas' rich and diverse heritage and culture.