San Marcos council backs multi‑year Dunbar History Walk plan, staff to proceed with community nominations

The San Marcos City Council on Nov. 5, 2025 received a presentation on the proposed Dunbar History Walk, a multi‑year effort to recognize people, businesses, churches and cultural places connected to the Dunbar neighborhood. Destination Services staff and members of the Dunbar Sisters Foundation described a program of physical markers at Dunbar Park coupled with a web‑based repository for histories, photos and audio.

Charlotte Watney, creative and marketing manager, told council the city vetted placing the markers in a single destination at the park’s sidewalk loop so the project could include non‑physical places and become a central location for interpretation. "The Dunbar History Walk is a visible way to recognize the intangible heritage and tell the story of the Dunbar neighborhood," Watney said.

Staff described two standing committees: a project development committee to draft guidelines, collect submissions and lead outreach, and a submission review committee that will research and verify nominations using current and former residents’ knowledge. Committees named in the presentation include Dunbar Heritage Association, the Kalaboose African American Museum, the Dunbar Sisters Foundation and city historic preservation and arts staff. Submissions will be accepted via paper and online forms; the presentation said outreach will include community open houses, door‑to‑door flyers and social media.

The project will feature rectangular plaques on raised platforms similar to memorial plaques currently in parks, with a possible tile or mosaic art element developed with a neighborhood artist. Staff said the information associated with each marker will live on smtxarts.com (a Visit San Marcos microsite) and be expanded over time as historic detail, photos and audio become available.

Staff indicated the inaugural installation is slated for fall 2026 and said the project will proceed after budget review; Watney said the Arts Commission was expected to review a budget request and the item will go to the Historic Commission for review. Staff described the budget as modest and stated the Arts Commission was likely to approve it. Councilmembers asked about how the project would locate former residents and nominees; organizers said they are using email, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), phone, and text and have existing contact lists from prior neighborhood research.

During the work session the council indicated a consensus to allow staff and the community committees to continue developing guidelines and outreach and return with budget and implementation details. No final budget appropriation or formal ordinance was adopted at the Nov. 5 work session.