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25 October 2003, 12:24 AM
Walks to remember
By Richard A. Marini - San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 10/20/2003 12:00 AM
http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlc=1071092
San Antonio isn't a city friendly to walkers. Which is one reason among many that we're always at or near the top of every "fattest city in America" list ever released.
The problem is, in many neighborhoods, sidewalks are rare or nonexistent. And in those that have them, the sidewalks are often either too narrow for two people to walk abreast, too close to the street and traffic or so old and cracked you need a climbing rope and crampons to navigate them.
"San Antonio is an automobile-oriented city," explains Scott Ericksen, the man in charge of improving these conditions for local bipeds. He's with the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the agency that handles federal transportation dollars in the region. "There was all this wide-open, inexpensive land, so the city is spread out and developments are low-density. It's not a unique situation, but there you have it."
This has also historically been a very poor city, so through the years city leaders have spent relatively little on our transportation infrastructure, "other than roads, of course," he says.
That's not to say there aren't any decent walking neighborhoods. But "decent" is about as good as it gets. A recent canvass of the city and its environs found many poor ones, not a single knock-you-hiking-socks-off one and a number that fell somewhere in the middle.
If you'd like to suggest a good walking neighborhood left off this list, send information to rmarini@express-news.net. Describe the neighborhood, its location and why you like it for a potential follow-up story.
Here, then, are our picks for the best neighborhoods to take a long walk.
The Arbor
This fairly large neighborhood is located off Jones Maltsberger Road, north of the Blossom Athletic Center.
The good: Bordered by Perennial Drive, Heimer Road, Cross Canyon and Jones Maltsberger, The Arbor has wide sidewalks and several long, sweeping hills, making it easy to get a good cardiovascular workout. There are also lots of dead-end streets where traffic's at a minimum.
The bad: The sidewalks are flush against the street, so there's no buffer between you and the traffic. Also, lots of big, brick mailboxes have been plopped right in the middle of many of them.
The directions: Take U.S. 281 North to the Bitters Road exit, go right on East Bitters, bear left on Starcrest Drive, left on Jones Maltsberger Road. Take a left on Perennial to enter the neighborhood.
Braun Heights at Braun Station
This is one of a number of small, leafy subdivisions located in the Braun Station area on the Northwest Side, just inside Loop 1604.
The good: Encircled by London Heights and Queen Heights, this neighborhood has some of the city's best, most intriguing sidewalks. Instead of simply running flat and parallel to the street, they swoop and swerve, following the topography of the land while usually steering clear of obstacles such as mailboxes and utility poles. Many homeowners have landscaped around them, and they're wide enough for two people to walk side by side. It's obvious they were planned from the beginning of this neighborhood's development, not simply put in as an afterthought.
The bad: Those same hilly sidewalks might be difficult for those who aren't in shape.
The directions: Take Guilbeau Road west and go right on Tezel Road. Turn left on either London Heights or Queen Heights to enter the neighborhood.
Gruene Courtyard, New Braunfels
This neo-traditional (i.e. old-fashioned) neighborhood is rising from what used to be farmland just south of Gruene in New Braunfels.
The good: This relatively new development (construction started in 1997) features houses built close to the street, usually with large front porches where neighbors can congregate, socialize and keep an eye on things. The sidewalks are wide and separated from the street by narrow planting strips, the houses are designed with eye-catching architectural details and utilities are all underground so there are no wooden poles and wires marring the views.
The bad: Still under development, the neighborhood consists of only four streets — Jo Lynn, Azalea and Lashell lanes and Denise Drive. (A fifth street is on the drawing board.) In other words, you can either quickly become familiar with every nook and cranny of the area, or you can expand your walk to the more traditional (i.e. walker-unfriendly) neighborhood across Gruene Road.
The directions: Take Interstate 35 North to the Texas 46 exit in New Braunfels, turn left on Texas 46 under the highway, right on River Acres Drive, right on Gruene Road. Enter the neighborhood by taking a left on Denise Drive.
Jefferson/ Woodlawn Lake
Located west of Interstate 10 inside Loop 410, this historic inner-city neighborhood is anchored by the jewel-like Woodlawn Lake to the south, the imposing Jefferson High School to the north.
The good: Woodlawn Lake offers walkers a choice between a path encircling the lake or a more eclectic hike on the surrounding city streets. Serpentine Kampmann Boulevard connects the lake to the school and is lined with a mishmash of architectural styles, from Victorian to English Tudor to wanna-be Frank Lloyd Wright. For added enjoyment, explore the side streets such as West Gramercy Place, West Kings Highway and West Mistletoe Avenue.
The bad: Kampmann isn't completely sidewalked. At points you'll find yourself sharing the road with bikers in the bike lane.
The directions: Take Interstate 10 West to the Woodlawn Avenue exit, turn left on West Woodlawn and drive about one mile. Woodlawn Lake will be on the left, Kampmann on the right.
Lago Vista
Located about a mile and a half south of South Park Mall, this is the first San Antonio neighborhood built by American CityVista, former Mayor Henry Cisneros' inner-city housing venture with KB Home.
The good: Turns out American CityVista makes a pretty interesting walking neighborhood. This one on the South Side features ample sidewalks, homes that sport a variety of interesting architectural flourishes and, often, large front porches. Bounded by Sunbend Falls, Sunview Park and Sundrop Falls, Lago Vista is large enough to provide a thorough workout.
The bad: There's not a tree in this neighborhood that wasn't purchased at a nursery, so shade is virtually nonexistent. There are also breaks in the sidewalks where homes are yet to be built.
The directions: Take Interstate 35 South to the Zarzamora Street exit and go left on South Zarzamora. Enter the neighborhood by taking a right at Ansley Boulevard.
Royal Ridge
It's on the northeast side of town between Weidner Road and Randolph Boulevard, just north of Windcrest.
The good: Almost encircled by Royal Ridge Drive, this is a neighborhood of mostly patio and garden homes that, architecturally speaking, exude a distinct California vibe. Most have garages around back, so you don't have to dodge cars entering and leaving. There are also some good, heart-pumping hills.
The bad: Many of the front yards are inexplicably covered not with cooling lawns but with heat-reflecting rocks or pavers. Several streets don't have sidewalks.
The directions: Take Interstate 35 North to the Weidner Road exit, turn right on North Weidner, left on Randolph Boulevard. Enter the neighborhood by taking a right on Royal Ridge.
By Richard A. Marini - San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 10/20/2003 12:00 AM
http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlc=1071092
San Antonio isn't a city friendly to walkers. Which is one reason among many that we're always at or near the top of every "fattest city in America" list ever released.
The problem is, in many neighborhoods, sidewalks are rare or nonexistent. And in those that have them, the sidewalks are often either too narrow for two people to walk abreast, too close to the street and traffic or so old and cracked you need a climbing rope and crampons to navigate them.
"San Antonio is an automobile-oriented city," explains Scott Ericksen, the man in charge of improving these conditions for local bipeds. He's with the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the agency that handles federal transportation dollars in the region. "There was all this wide-open, inexpensive land, so the city is spread out and developments are low-density. It's not a unique situation, but there you have it."
This has also historically been a very poor city, so through the years city leaders have spent relatively little on our transportation infrastructure, "other than roads, of course," he says.
That's not to say there aren't any decent walking neighborhoods. But "decent" is about as good as it gets. A recent canvass of the city and its environs found many poor ones, not a single knock-you-hiking-socks-off one and a number that fell somewhere in the middle.
If you'd like to suggest a good walking neighborhood left off this list, send information to rmarini@express-news.net. Describe the neighborhood, its location and why you like it for a potential follow-up story.
Here, then, are our picks for the best neighborhoods to take a long walk.
The Arbor
This fairly large neighborhood is located off Jones Maltsberger Road, north of the Blossom Athletic Center.
The good: Bordered by Perennial Drive, Heimer Road, Cross Canyon and Jones Maltsberger, The Arbor has wide sidewalks and several long, sweeping hills, making it easy to get a good cardiovascular workout. There are also lots of dead-end streets where traffic's at a minimum.
The bad: The sidewalks are flush against the street, so there's no buffer between you and the traffic. Also, lots of big, brick mailboxes have been plopped right in the middle of many of them.
The directions: Take U.S. 281 North to the Bitters Road exit, go right on East Bitters, bear left on Starcrest Drive, left on Jones Maltsberger Road. Take a left on Perennial to enter the neighborhood.
Braun Heights at Braun Station
This is one of a number of small, leafy subdivisions located in the Braun Station area on the Northwest Side, just inside Loop 1604.
The good: Encircled by London Heights and Queen Heights, this neighborhood has some of the city's best, most intriguing sidewalks. Instead of simply running flat and parallel to the street, they swoop and swerve, following the topography of the land while usually steering clear of obstacles such as mailboxes and utility poles. Many homeowners have landscaped around them, and they're wide enough for two people to walk side by side. It's obvious they were planned from the beginning of this neighborhood's development, not simply put in as an afterthought.
The bad: Those same hilly sidewalks might be difficult for those who aren't in shape.
The directions: Take Guilbeau Road west and go right on Tezel Road. Turn left on either London Heights or Queen Heights to enter the neighborhood.
Gruene Courtyard, New Braunfels
This neo-traditional (i.e. old-fashioned) neighborhood is rising from what used to be farmland just south of Gruene in New Braunfels.
The good: This relatively new development (construction started in 1997) features houses built close to the street, usually with large front porches where neighbors can congregate, socialize and keep an eye on things. The sidewalks are wide and separated from the street by narrow planting strips, the houses are designed with eye-catching architectural details and utilities are all underground so there are no wooden poles and wires marring the views.
The bad: Still under development, the neighborhood consists of only four streets — Jo Lynn, Azalea and Lashell lanes and Denise Drive. (A fifth street is on the drawing board.) In other words, you can either quickly become familiar with every nook and cranny of the area, or you can expand your walk to the more traditional (i.e. walker-unfriendly) neighborhood across Gruene Road.
The directions: Take Interstate 35 North to the Texas 46 exit in New Braunfels, turn left on Texas 46 under the highway, right on River Acres Drive, right on Gruene Road. Enter the neighborhood by taking a left on Denise Drive.
Jefferson/ Woodlawn Lake
Located west of Interstate 10 inside Loop 410, this historic inner-city neighborhood is anchored by the jewel-like Woodlawn Lake to the south, the imposing Jefferson High School to the north.
The good: Woodlawn Lake offers walkers a choice between a path encircling the lake or a more eclectic hike on the surrounding city streets. Serpentine Kampmann Boulevard connects the lake to the school and is lined with a mishmash of architectural styles, from Victorian to English Tudor to wanna-be Frank Lloyd Wright. For added enjoyment, explore the side streets such as West Gramercy Place, West Kings Highway and West Mistletoe Avenue.
The bad: Kampmann isn't completely sidewalked. At points you'll find yourself sharing the road with bikers in the bike lane.
The directions: Take Interstate 10 West to the Woodlawn Avenue exit, turn left on West Woodlawn and drive about one mile. Woodlawn Lake will be on the left, Kampmann on the right.
Lago Vista
Located about a mile and a half south of South Park Mall, this is the first San Antonio neighborhood built by American CityVista, former Mayor Henry Cisneros' inner-city housing venture with KB Home.
The good: Turns out American CityVista makes a pretty interesting walking neighborhood. This one on the South Side features ample sidewalks, homes that sport a variety of interesting architectural flourishes and, often, large front porches. Bounded by Sunbend Falls, Sunview Park and Sundrop Falls, Lago Vista is large enough to provide a thorough workout.
The bad: There's not a tree in this neighborhood that wasn't purchased at a nursery, so shade is virtually nonexistent. There are also breaks in the sidewalks where homes are yet to be built.
The directions: Take Interstate 35 South to the Zarzamora Street exit and go left on South Zarzamora. Enter the neighborhood by taking a right at Ansley Boulevard.
Royal Ridge
It's on the northeast side of town between Weidner Road and Randolph Boulevard, just north of Windcrest.
The good: Almost encircled by Royal Ridge Drive, this is a neighborhood of mostly patio and garden homes that, architecturally speaking, exude a distinct California vibe. Most have garages around back, so you don't have to dodge cars entering and leaving. There are also some good, heart-pumping hills.
The bad: Many of the front yards are inexplicably covered not with cooling lawns but with heat-reflecting rocks or pavers. Several streets don't have sidewalks.
The directions: Take Interstate 35 North to the Weidner Road exit, turn right on North Weidner, left on Randolph Boulevard. Enter the neighborhood by taking a right on Royal Ridge.