There is no better time to start than today, and as the Elders of the Hope Tribe said: "We are the ones we've been waiting for."
Scenic San Antonio, created in 1993 but remaining inactive since 1995, is being revitalized by a group of civic leaders. The first meeting was held in January and strategic plans are being developed.
We are awed by our city's beauty and plan to work hard to preserve its most intrinsic scenic qualities. We will begin by working with local elected officials, city staff, and business leaders to tighten and enforce our existing landscape, tree preservation and sign ordinances. We hope to see the city's master plan come to fruition.
Scenic San Antonio will also be supporting the Scenic Texas legislative agenda to stop new billboard construction, allow Texas to join the national scenic byways program, and encourage indigenous low maintenance landscaping along our highways.
San Antonio can stop new billboard construction inside its jurisdiction but its gateways and neighboring rural communities are at risk. And joining the national byways program would enable neighborhoods and communities to access federal funds for roads that have aesthetic, recreational, cultural, archeological, or historical significance. We want our federal tax dollars returned to Texas instead of going to other states for roadway enhancements. This would be good news for San Antonio which relies on revenue from tourism. Our designated scenic byways would be included on the National Scenic Byways map. A national and international audience would be informed, through the Internet and various publications, of our scenic landscape. The Camino Real and Chisholm trails could become unique attractions rather than historical footnotes in San Antonio history. We will be looking to our state representatives and senators for support on these important state issues.
If you are interested in becoming part of the Scenic San Antonio leadership, email us at scenic@scenictexas.org, and we will forward your name for consideration.
Hundreds of individuals in San Antonio are receiving the Scenic Texas newsletters, however only a handful are members. We need your help to preserve our scenic beauty for generations to come. Membership in the non-profit organization starts at the $30 level. When you join Scenic San Antonio, you will automatically become a member of Scenic Texas and Scenic America.