San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation said on Monday it will add more emergency call towers along the city’s trails in light of two suspicious deaths.
On Sept. 22, 63-year-old Stacey Dramiga went for her daily morning walk along the Salado Creek Greenway, but never came home. She was found dead near the Dafoste Park Trailhead the next day.
Two weeks later on Oct. 2, a man was found dead at the Walker Ranch Trailhead in an abandoned golf cart covered by a tarp.
The San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office are investigating both cases as homicides and suspect foul play. No one has been charged for the deaths.
The Salado Creek Greenway opens from sunrise to sunset, like all trails in San Antonio. It runs 30 miles from the Southeast Side, north east to the far North Side near Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, connecting to several parks along the way.
Public safety tips at the trails
At a Sept. 23 press conference, Sheriff Javier Salazar said “the greenway trails are absolutely safe.”
“No matter where you are — a park, a rural area or in the middle of the city, you’ve got to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Make sure you’re notifying someone of where you’ll be,” he said.
“But I don’t think this points to the safety of the parks or the trailways. The trails are just as safe as anywhere else,” he said. “It’s just important for us to be mindful of personal safety.”
SAPD told the San Antonio Report that its officers strongly advise people not to travel alone when at the trails. Hit the trails in pairs or groups. Stick to the designated paved trails. Become familiar with the trail and its markers before your hike or bike ride so that if needed, first responders can find you faster.
Follow the curfew, said SAPD public information officer Ximena Alvarez. She said police recommend starting a trip at least 30 minutes after sunrise and or ending it at least 30 minutes before sunset so you don’t walk in the dark.
Tell someone what time you’re arriving and what time you should be leaving before hitting the trails and at what trailhead you’re starting from.
Consider ditching the noise-canceling headphones. Be aware of your surroundings.
Some smartphones and watches have safety features if you’re in an emergency situation. Get to know them.
If you see something, say something. Be aware of where you are and what landmarks you’re around.
Carry plenty of water. Alvarez recommended one-half liter per hour of time spent on the trail. Plan for more water if it’s going to be hotter. Make sure to carry safety essentials like your phone, medicine, inhalers, sunscreen, first aid, trail map (printed or electronic) and a whistle.
The ATV/Bike Patrol Unit of the San Antonio Park Police are responsible for the 105 miles of trails across the city, including the Leon Creek, Salado Creek and Medina River greenways, from the San Antonio River at South Alamo Street to the Olmos Basin and the Westside Creeks trail systems.
More trail maintenance staff, trail watch volunteers and 46 trail stewards also have an active presence on the trails, according to Parks and Recreation, helping people along the trails with the most traffic everyday in six-hour shifts.
If you need help, reach the non-emergency number at 210-207-7273 or call 9-1-1 for immediate help. Report information at 210-335-6000 or at bscotips@bexar.org.
Local hikers, campers and backpackers are meeting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 20 at Comanche Park, 2600 Rigsby Ave., to promote safety awareness at local trails.
According to the event page, Park Police Officer Juan de La Pena will share safety and awareness tips for using the trails and will take questions the public.
