Park Directory
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Garza Park and Community Center
General Info
| Address: | 1450 Mira Vista, 78228 |
| Phone: | 207-7275 |
| Website: | Community Link Center |
| Hours: | Sunday-Saturday: 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. |
| Size: | 21.5 acres |
| Amenities: | First-come, first-serve, except for sports fields Swimming Pool (seasonal, outdoor) 1 Soccer field: Rental Availability 2 Softball fields: #1 Rental Availability #2 Rental Availability Basketball court fitness stations Tennis court Walking trail Rental Guidelines (link to pdf) |
| Fees: | Community Center fees: Gym practices and/or games: $25 per hour flat fee with two-hour minimum. This gym is not available for volleyball rentals General use entire facility: $50 an hour with a two-hour minimum plus $100 deposit. Fee is due at the time of the reservation. Special events charging admission and/or selling concessions: $75 an hour with a two-hour minimum and $500 damage/cleanup deposit paid prior to a permit being issued. Deposit may be returned, less any expenses encountered by the City for cleaning or damage. |
| Notes: | Alcohol prohibited Security: Security is required for any event with DJ or band Other equipment: Approximately nine tables and 200 chairs are available with the rental. However, it is important to call the center at 435-6806 to confirm the number of tables and chairs that will be available for your rental. Garza gyms Kitchen facilities |
Availability: |
Park History
Gilbert Garza Park, a 21.5 acre park at 1450 Mira Vista, was originally called Mira Vista for the street. Created in 1972, the park was soon re-named for Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert Garza, who died later that year.
Garza, son of immigrants from Monterrey, Mexico, was only the third Hispanic to be elected to Mayor Pro Tem in San Antonio history. He was a native of San Antonio and attended Fox Tech High School. After serving in the U.S. Navy he studied drafting and was later certified as an architect. He eventually formed a firm with Dan Cerna and Larry Raba called C-G-R, which was noted for its work with H.B. Zachry Co. With Zachry, Garza worked to perfect the first modular building system in the United States. That system was used to construct the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel and Metropolitan General Hospital.
Not a politician at heart, Garza was drafted in 1971 by the Good Government League to run on a ticket headed by Mayor John Gatti and won his City Council seat in a runoff with Dr. D. Ford Nielsen. In 1972 he was elected Mayor Pro Tem and was serving in the absence of Mayor Gatti on Nov. 12, 1972 when he suffered a heart attack. He died two days later. At the time of Garza's death, there was discussion that he might lead the 1973 City Council slate and become the City's first modern-day Hispanic Mayor.
Garza was interested in long range planning issues and was instrumental in conceiving the River Corridor Study. He envisioned setting aside green space for citizens’ use along the San Antonio River. Following his death, this new park on the west side was named in his honor.
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