Victoria Courts Park bka Durango Park and Victoria Park is one of the many lesser known, forgotten parks of San Antonio. This news article will explain and explore the history behind Victoria Courts Park.
Victoria Courts Park was established and plotted by San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) in 1976 after citizens requested Victoria Park to be built across from the new Federal Building during a meeting. Victoria Courts Park was known as Victoria Street Park during that time. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/48580794/)
“Also requested at the East Side meeting were a Victoria Street park across from the new Federal Building, completion of the East Commerce Street drainage project, and improvement of drainage along Elgin Street near Highlands High School. At Wright Elementary School, 115 E. Huff St.. Harlandale, School Supt. C. G. Boggess said he has asked for three years in a row for better recreational, drainage, medical and social services of the elderly and handicapped in the Harlandale area, but he has received no action.”
This was done after an urban renewal plan enacted by the City of San Antonio had removed residences and businesses located along Labor Street in order to expand the Victoria Courts housing project in 1976 and 1977. Victoria Street was paved over with grass and removed from city map directories and databases. (Ref: Bexar County Land Deeds, Document #698283)
The name of this park has changed a handful of times. The name of Victoria Courts Park was changed to Durango Park at one and at another point the name of Victoria Courts Park was changed to Victoria Park.
The City of San Antonio sent out work crew to repair and clean up Victoria Park on the date of June 12, 2008. Victoria Park had fallen into an unrecognizable state of disrepair and neglect by that time. The inspection report that concluded: "This is a dangerous playground." Victoria Park would be reopened to the public sometime during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. (Ref: San Antonio Express-News, S.A. Send out work crews ; city speeds up Playground repairs, June 12, 2008)
In 2012, San Antonio Housing Authority initially approached the City of San Antonio to inquire about the viability of exchanging the City’s 0.95-acre Victoria Park at 600 East Cesar Chavez for 1.95 acres of property owned by San Antonio Housing Authority at 440 Labor Street.The exchange of properties - and the transfer of Victoria Park’s current function to a larger parcel would effectively double the City’s parkland in the neighborhood and place the park into a more interior neighborhood-centric location. The exchange also would allow SAHA ownership of the west commercial corner of Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Labor Street for the purpose of mixed-use development. Both properties have been appraised and are within $5,000 of each other in value. The transaction will be a like-kind exchange. (Ref: docsonline.sanantonio.gov/FileUploads/dsd/January%252022,%25202014%2520Planning%2520Commission%2520Agenda.pdf)
Victoria Park's location is adjacent to a busy thoroughfare, Cesar Chavez Boulevard limits its utility and visibly as a neighborhood park. The alternative location on Labor Street would provide a much improved delivery of park uses and opportunities for recreation for the neighborhood including improved accessibility and neighborhood walkability; and the exchange of these properties would result in an increase of the city's parkland in the neighborhood and place the park into a more interior neighborhood centric location.
A reviewer on foursquare.com describes Victoria Park as “A nice little neighborhood park with little play area for the kids.” (Ref: https://foursquare.com/v/victoria-park/4ce5a72bf8653704a6929dc4)
Victoria Park was a 0.95 acre lot with a playground and pathways from 2009 to 2013. The playground included swing sets, monkey bars, and a small yellow wavy-shaped slide.
However all playground equipment was dismantled and removed in 2014. This meant Victoria Park no longer had a playground.
In 2014, San Antonio Housing Authority had proposed deeding a 1.95 acre tract on Labor Street to the City of San Antonio in exchange for the Victoria Park property. However the City of San Antonio found that there was no feasible and prudent alternative to the change in use of the 0.95 acres of parkland known as Victoria Park located at 600 East Cesar Chavez Boulevard. The City Council determined that the proposed change in use includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land, as a park, resulting from the change in use, specifically by the acquisition of the approximately 1.95 acre parcel located at 440 Labor Street to be used as park land. So San Antonio Housing Authority continues to own the property. (Ref: https://therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ordinance-2014-03-06-0133.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-b-1-d)
San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) currently owns Victoria Courts Park bka Durango Park and Victoria Park. Victoria Courts Park is now a vacant 0.95 acre lot just pathways and a water fountain. (Ref: https://bexar.trueautomation.com/clientdb/Property.aspx?cid=110&prop_id=1332046)
Victoria Courts Park bka Durango Park and Victoria Park is located at 600 East César E. Chávez Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas, US 78210 and 600 East Cesar E. Chávez Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas, US 78210.
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