San Angelo Greenlights Master Plan for Santa Fe, Downtown River Parks

The San Angelo City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved awarding a $198,600 contract to the SWA Group for the development of a comprehensive master plan for Santa Fe Park and the downtown river parks system. 

The master plan aims to create a unified vision for several river-adjacent parks, including Civic League, Santa Fe, Sunken Garden, Bart DeWitt and Rio Concho. A major component will be determining how to best incorporate the Concho River Legacy Trail, a planned sculpture trail that will depict the history of the Concho Valley.

The proposal was presented by Parks and Recreation Director Carl White, who calls for SWA Group to lead the planning and design work for what is being referred to as the Santa Fe/Downtown River Parks Master Plan. The Houston-based firm was selected from 11 submissions after a review committee narrowed the field to three finalists and invited them to present their approach in person. 

Mayor Tom Thompson said the project has been driven in part by private sector interest and could be transformative for San Angelo’s core. 

“This has been a project that was actually brought up by a private industry that came forward, but it’s a way to develop some of the core parts of San Angelo that, in the future, will help bring more people to town,” Thompson said. He added that he hopes the process will move faster than the estimated nine-month timeline.

The funding will come from the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), the San Angelo Development Corporation (COSADC), and the city’s General Capital Projects fund balance.

The council first endorsed private fundraising efforts for the sculpture installations in May 2025. That vote prompted staff to seek professional planning services to re-envision Santa Fe Park and the surrounding river parks with the public art trail in mind. The process advanced in July when the council authorized issuing a Request for Qualifications, ultimately leading to SWA Group’s selection.

Key deliverables of the project include a conceptual master plan for Santa Fe Park—encompassing the Kids Kingdom playground area—a conceptual plan for river parks east of Santa Fe Park, coordinated concepts tying together the various parks along the river, and landscape plans that integrate the Legacy Trail sculptures. The plan will also outline general management and maintenance strategies for long-term stewardship.

According to White, public engagement will play a central role throughout the planning process. Meetings will be held with city staff, stakeholder groups, and community organizations, including the Santa Fe Park Commission, Santa Rita HOA, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Public Art Commission, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, botanical garden advocates, SAISD, Downtown San Angelo, the Area and Health foundations, Legacy Trail representatives, and City Council members.

The project area is historically and culturally significant. Santa Fe Park, acquired in 1913, spans about 50 acres along the North Concho River and is surrounded by key landmarks such as Civic League Park and Sunken Garden Park. Once a golf course, the park now includes a nine-hole walking course that officials say is underutilized. Previous investments have included trail improvements, lighting, riverbank stabilization, a visitors’ center and the Kids Kingdom playground, which is now due for refurbishment or replacement.