The River Walk has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic. Business owners and city officials are trying to do something about that.
The City of San Antonio aims to have a new strategic plan by fall 2026 that will chart a course forward for the downtown attraction and business hub.
At a City Council meeting Wednesday, business representatives said changes are needed. Business owners have been calling on the city for more investment since 2024.
Marco Barros, a trustee and founder with the River Walk Business Group, told council members business has been declining.
“We have had trends the past three years where sales for the summer go down,” Barros said. “This summer, we have had a drop in sales of 11 to 12% [compared to last year].”
In a Sep. 26 interview, Casa Rio owner Bill Lyons said sales at the historic River Walk restaurant have not returned to pre-COVID levels.
Leisure and local traffic have decreased, he said. Casa Rio has cut some restaurant items and raised some prices.
The city is taking proposals until Thursday, Oct. 9 to put together a new strategic plan.
On Wednesday, council members and city officials had their chance for input on the plan and the future of the downtown stretch of the San Antonio River.
“The strategic plan will allow us to take a comprehensive look at all aspects of the River Walk and certainly work with stakeholders downtown,” said City Manager Erik Walsh. “The last time we did this was 2008. In meeting with stakeholders over the last seven or eight months, we have come to the conclusion that we need to update this and go forward.”
Walsh added that the plan could include changes to infrastructure, signage and city ordinances regarding business operations and leases. Since the 2008 master plan, the River Walk has had $18.7 million in capital improvements, which were completed in 2022.
Shannon Miller, director of the city’s Office of Historic Preservation, said that money came from a River Walk Capital Improvements Fund, which comes from leases to businesses that rent patio space on the River Walk itself. These deals bring in roughly $500,000 a year, according to Miller’s presentation at the meeting.
Those funds would also pay for the new strategic plan.
“That fund must be used for capital projects and improvements to the River Walk,” Miller said.
The strategic plan would look at past work and take public input from businesses and residents to figure out how to make the River Walk more attractive.
“The scope of work is really intended to take a holistic approach to consider all of the opportunities that we have to improve the overall experience,” Miller said. “We know that we need and we want to hear from tourists, but we also want to hear from locals. And in particular, we want to hear from the locals who don’t come to the river as much as we would like them to.”
Council members weigh in
Council members focused on accessibility and public input when discussing the River Walk, with more progressive council members asking for feedback from residents and workers, as well as local businesses.
“I’d like there to be some specific inclusion here of safety for workers that are on the river,” said Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones.
Multiple council members brought up accessibility. Miller said the last accessibility-focused improvements happened in 2022.
“Will the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] upgrades and accessibility improvements be protected from being overshadowed or deprioritized in the budget by business attraction projects?” asked Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2).
McKee-Rodriguez also asked city officials to consider where city funding is going more broadly. He enjoys the River Walk as a San Antonio resident, he said, but also wants investment in the city to be balanced across the city, not just in downtown.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t invest here, but I do want to discuss it as a component of the larger downtown investment we’re making,” McKee-Rodriguez said. “$18.7 million have already been spent on River Walk capital projects while many neighborhoods lack basic infrastructure. We’re already planning to focus more bond dollars downtown as part of our efforts to realize Project Marvel.”
Miller clarified that money from the River Walk Capital Improvement Fund — including that $18.7 million — had to be spent specifically in the downtown River Walk area.
Council members touched on other possible changes, endorsing more public art, shade and other cooling technologies, as well as steps to increase safety for customers and workers.
During the meeting, council members and business owners asked who the River Walk is for. On Wednesday, several council members advocated for more family-friendly businesses. Councilman Ric Galvan (D6) said he wants the River Walk to attract more San Antonio residents.
Miller and Barros both brought up the mix of businesses and pointed out that additional retail options could be added to the River Walk.
“All we want is for people to have a better experience and for people to have fun,” Barros said after the meeting.
