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OUR VISION
Trees branching generations, inspiring a deep love of nature, Arboretum San Antonio welcomes all to connect
with our cultural heritage and collectively build an environmentally restorative future.
OUR MISSION
Arboretum San Antonio provides immersive nature-based experiences that are rooted in San Antonio’s vibrant culture and indigenous legacies. We offer welcoming places for retreat to support the well-being of people and the natural world, provide accessible programming that empowers and delights individuals and communities, and research critical connections between trees and the changing climate of South Texas.
OUR VALUES
Nature | Heritage
Discovery | Community
WHAT IS AN ARBORETUM?
An arboretum is a public garden specializing in trees. As an outdoor living museum, arboreta include a curated collection of species that are selected, planted, and stewarded to advance the knowledge and appreciation of trees within the ecosystem. Arboreta across the globe practice scientific research, promote conservation, and engage in public outreach and education to protect and preserve trees and other woody plants.
HOW ARE ARBORETA DIFFERENT THAN PARKS?
Arboreta are green spaces that provide similar community benefits as parks, but have a targeted ecological mission specifically linked to a collection of trees and plants. Arboreta are focused on the research, education, and preservation of trees with complementary programming. Proportionate to their size, arboreta most often have larger green spaces and provide more ecosystem services to their surrounding community.
WHERE IS THE ARBORETUM?
Arboretum San Antonio is on Southeast Military Drive at the former Republic Golf Course, between I-37 and 410, less than two miles east of Brooks, and a quick 10-12 minutes from downtown San Antonio. After a full year of listening to our community, we unveiled our master plan in May 2025. The plan includes a four-phased approach to building and programming on-site. Phase Zero began in June 2025 and is focused on a coordinated philanthropic and capital campaign. We anticipate being publicly accessible in some capacity in 2028.
ABOUT OUR SITE
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Arboretum San Antonio is the city’s and South Texas’ first arboretum - a green space sanctuary dedicated to trees.
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The 200-acre site is located on our city’s southeast side at the former Republic Golf Course, less than two miles from Brooks. It is a quick 10-12 minutes from downtown with easy access to major highways.
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The site was purchased in November 2023.
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Arboretum San Antonio will be the second-largest arboretum in Texas and serve as a leading recreational, ecological, economic, and educational resource for residents and visitors of all ages.
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It will offer pedestrian and bicycle trails, a nursery to propagate native and climate-resilient trees, nature-based programming, event spaces, and public art displays.
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The site includes multiple Indigenous (Coahuiltecan tribes) seasonal camping grounds.
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Salado Creek runs through the site and is an important tributary of the San Antonio River and historically fed local acequias.
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The site is home to the rare Blackland Prairie and sits at the crossroads of four local eco-regions, making it well-suited to showcase the trees and ecologies of all four regions, truly making it South Texas’ arboretum.
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It will connect to the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System (a growing network of 101 miles of accessible, connected trails), adding to our city’s continuous ring of hike and bike trails.