In a few weeks the City of San Antonio will begin construction on a walkway through the heart of Miraflores, the historic garden of Dr. Aureliano Urrutia, my great grandfather, constructed from 1921-1940 on 4.5 acres just below the headwaters of the San Antonio River.
The walkway will restore both east/west and north/south pathways to form a continuous artery from the entrance at the Brackenridge Park pedestrian bridge to the entrance at the Hildebrand gate.
“I’m excited that the City Council is moving forward on this project, which will allow citizens access on a limited basis to see what a jewel this garden is,” said Lynn Bobbitt, executive director of the Brackenridge Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that provides stewardship for Brackenridge Park, of which Miraflores is a part.
The work, Phase 4 of a number of recent improvements to the garden, will highlight a bronze statue of Urrutia, given to him in 1940 by a grateful patient from Mexico City. Urrutia placed it at the center of a 36-foot reflecting pool and constructed around it an “outdoor room” with a brick walkway encircling the fountain, surrounded by “walls” of trees and shrubs.
The restored circular walkway in this area will utilize original pavers, which currently lie buried beneath the surface. The pool itself also is buried, with the exception of its exposed edge, and will remain so for the time being. New trees will be planted to restore the sense of the garden room.
The original driveway, coming in from the Hildebrand gate will also be restored, and will no longer be used as a driveway, but as a grand tree-lined walkway of decomposed granite.
“I’m very happy to see this happening,” said Dr. Aureliano A. “Bud” Urrutia, namesake and grandson of the garden’s creator. “I have great memories of roaming these grounds during my childhood, and am glad that the City is working to restore it for the public to experience.”
In its heyday, Urrutia used Miraflores as a private garden, as well as a place to entertain friends and community. He also allowed organizations to use the garden for various celebratory occasions.
With a price tag of approximately $350,000, City Council approved this phase in December 2016 under recommendation from the Historic and Design Review Commission. RVK Architects provided plans for the walkway project, based on a 2008 Master Plan, which was approved by the Texas Historical Commission. Alpha Building Corporation, a Minority/Women Business Enterprise, is contractor for the services.
Previous work on Miraflores includes the pedestrian bridge built from Brackenridge Park (2009), a Dionicio Rodríguez sculpture and a palapa restoration provided through a San Antonio Conservation Society grant (2011), and improvements in conjunction with flood mitigation, including restorations of a Rodríguez pedestrian entrance gate, the larger Hildebrand Gate entrance with replacement of some of its tile murals, and rebuilding of the perimeter stone wall along Hildebrand (2015).
Miraflores was acquired by the City of San Antonio in 2006 as parkland, and is the unique garden expression of Dr. Aureliano Urrutia, who came to San Antonio from Mexico City in 1914. The garden contains a number of significant objects reflecting important aspects of Mexican history, art and culture; some of which are on the Smithsonian Inventory of American Sculpture. It is on the National Register of Historic Places (2006), and is a State of Texas Archaeological Landmark (2009).
It’s about time! This is long overdue and will be a great enhancement to the parks system.
Thank you for your comment Doug. The new walkway will be a start in the right direction. It will allow small groups to arrange access to the grounds through the Brackenridge Park Conservancy. I will be so happy when people can go in and have a better view of what this garden could be.
Thank you Elise. I became aware of Dr. Urrutia through viewing his archway off the Pre-Columbian exhibit in the SAMA. I think there’s another archway I’ve seen, over many years now, while driving along Hildebrand? I don’t know, but now I’m going to have to go around there, and walk and wander through what’s there now. Can’t wait for the improvements too!
Thank you for your comments Jonathan. The archway at the SAMA, also pictured just above, was originally situated on Broadway, and was the main entrance to the property, which at that time was 15 acres. There is another entrance gate on Hildebrand. It is flanked by two columnar structures with tile panels with the iron gate in between. On Hildebrand, when you visit, you will also notice a beautiful small pedestrian gate at the northwest corner of the property, created by Urrutia’s artist friend, Dionicio Rodriguez.
I am so glad to see this getting started. Wouldn’t it be nice if this was the beginning of a corridor that went from Hildebrand,the headwaters of the San Antonio River,to the last
mission eventually with barge travel to the last mission ?
Thank you for your comment, Kit. I agree, the connection of San Antonio along our entire exquisite river corridor would be one of the best possible outcomes for our city. So many good things have happened to San Antonio in the past 10 years. I definitely share your dream.
Such wonderful news. I’ve always been amazed that this park has remained under gate and off-limits for so many years.
Thank you for your comment Frank!
I wish the house was still there, would have been a wonderful piece of San Antonio history to visit, since Dr. Urrutia was well recognized in the medical field.
The city needs to do more with the conservation society in keeping treasures like this from getting demolish.
Thank you for your comment Jeffrey. The house was special.