Arboretum San Antonio outlines master plan, aims for $25 million bond ask for first phase

City and nonprofit leaders on Feb. 12 briefed the San Antonio City Council on the Arboretum San Antonio master planning process, saying the project aims to convert an 188‑acre former golf course on Southeast Military Drive into a free, publicly accessible arboretum and that the group plans to seek $25 million in the 2027 municipal bond for phase one.

The Arboretum San Antonio has nearly completed a master plan and expects to finish work in April 2025, Henry Cisneros, founder of Arboretum San Antonio, told the council. “This is not an arboretum that is just a physical place, but it's a concept, and the concept is appreciate San Antonio's tree cover, our tree canopy,” Cisneros said.

The nonprofit told council members the site is an initial 188 acres, with the organization under contract to purchase roughly 18.5 adjacent acres including a parking lot and several buildings; that purchase would bring the total to about 200 acres. The group said it has planted roughly 140 tree seedlings at an on‑site nursery and is developing water infrastructure and other operations planning while the master plan is finalized.

Arboretum leaders described a three‑part…