Woodlawn lake Park is a one-of-a-kind park located in San Antonio, Texas. The park dates back to the 1880s when developers wanted to build a residential subdivision and saw the need and opportunity for parkland on the west side of San Antonio. In 1918, the land and lake were deeded to the City of San Antonio and later the park would receive its official name, Woodlawn Lake Park.
In 2018, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department will recognize Woodlawn Lake Park’s 100th birthday. Our community is fortunate to have a park that is rich in history, culture and provides an open space to recreate serving thousands of residents from across the City .
The 62-acre park offers a wide variety of amenities and facilities that serve the entire City of San Anto nio and improves the quality of life for all. There are six facilities located throughout the park: Berta Almaguer Dance Studio; Joe V. Alderete, Jr. Tennis Courts; a swimming pool; gym and the Woodlawn Lake Island House. Generations of families have danced their way at the Berta Almaguer Dance Studio. The Woodlawn Lake Pool is a regional pool and offers free swim for residents from May through September.
The Woodlawn Lake Community Room is adjacent to the gymnasium and provides free Wi-Fi to the public. In 2013, the room received new furniture, carpeting, lighting, and paint to complement the space.
Residents can also enjoy free Wi-Fi and bring their laptops and other electronic devices to the park to research, apply for jobs and browse the internet. Students also have the opportunity to complete homework, check college blackboards for assignments, and connect with friends and family via socia l media while also connecting with nature.
In addition to the open, public hours, the community room features literacy activities coordinated by the San Antonio Public Library, to include story time for children, teen club, and Dare to Read Club for adults. The room also features a health kiosk where citizens are able to receive important health assessment information including heart rate, weight, Body Mass Index {BMI) and blood pressure.
The Community Health and Wellness Center at Woodlawn Lake Gym provides residents access to free fitness opportunities. The center also features classes for seniors offered by the Department of Human Services during the fall, winter and spring months.
The park’s walkin g trail surrounds the lake giving park users views of nature and a peak of the City skyline. Park users can keep fit with hundreds of free Fitness in the Park classes offered at the park. Many parks users enjoy fishing on the two docks and canoeing, kayaking on the lake.
On any given day the park is used as a gathering place for neighbors, birt hday parties and other celebrations. Two pavilions are availabl e for rental to the communit y. The park’s Island House is also availab le for rental for small gather ings such as meetings, luncheons and baby showers.
The park is often rented for community and nonprofit Sk w alks/ runs and special events. Thousands of San Antonians attend the annual Fourth of July event which brings the community together for an entire day ending with a firework show over the lake.
Resident and visitors can enjoy the park’s public art installation, “Spin eway” by New York based artist Marc Fornes. The installation consists of 22 colors and nearly 1,000 pieces that hold 20,000 rivets.
Woodlawn Lake Park is a beloved park. It is a place where lif elong memories have been made over the last 100 years. It will certainly be where countless memories are made for the next hundred years.