2008 Woodie Awards
District plans to buy historic park property to join offices
By Joyce Flores
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
Originally published: 4/3/08 at 5:48 PM CSTLast update: 4/4/08 at 9:16 AM CST
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Tuesday the San Antonio Water System board of trustees approved a resolution to execute a purchase agreement with the college district for the sale of the Playland Park property, 2222 N. Alamo St.
District administrators have 90 days to finalize the deal.
Anne Hayden, manager of communications for SAWS, said the 12.644-acre property is being sold for $4.13 million.
Leo Zuniga, associate vice chancellor for communications, said the land eventually will be used to build a new administration headquarters to house staff now at 811 W. Houston St., 201 W. Sheridan and 7990 Pat Booker Road.
He said the Playland parcel was an excellent property, and it will allow the district to have a presence in central San Antonio.
The Houston Street facility, the first district offices separate from the colleges, is one block west of Interstates 35 and 10. The Sheridan property is in the King William Historic District on the southern edge of downtown.
Zuniga added that while the district is buying the Playland property, no construction plans have been made.
"Right now, we are taking one step at a time," he said.
In a Monday memorandum, Chancellor Bruce Leslie addressed the need to house all district offices in one location.
"Currently, administrative services are located at Sheridan Street, Houston Street and at the Pat Booker location, which is problematic and does not support our efforts to work as efficiently as possible in serving students, faculty and staff."
Playland Park holds many memories for an older generation of San Antonians. The amusement park opened in 1940, and until it closed in 1980, hosted a variety of carnival games and rides.
Playland even housed The Rocket, a 3,200-foot track, wooden roller coaster from 1947 until it closed.
Ed Gaida, author of "Just for fun! Jimmy Johnsons's Playland Park," said he can see no better use for the property than for the district.
He said he was glad the property will be used by an institution that is dedicated to the public.
Gaida lived in an apartment above the Playland Park offices for 15 years until 2003 when the property was sold to SAWS.
"It's a beautiful piece of property," Gaida said.
He recalls his first visit to the park in 1947 with his family when he rode the newly installed roller coaster.
"It was a fun place to go," he said.
After graduating from college, Gaida began working at Playland Park in 1970 in food services until the park closed.
Gaida's book can be found at Borders at the Quarry, 255 E. Basse Road; The Twig Book Shop, 5005 Broadway; and On Main Off Main, 120 W. Mistletoe Ave.
For more on the park's history, visit http://www.playlandparkbook.com.
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