Trail construction forces parking changes at Rio Vista Park

Construction of the Shared Use Pathway Project has caused a change to parking spaces at Rio Vista Park.

The City of San Marcos said parking spaces have been realigned to protect an identified archaeological area southeast of the parking lot and Ranger Station along the San Marcos River. Twelve spaces that are used by the City of San Marcos Public Safety Department personnel have been removed because of the path’s alignment and the finding of artifacts, which include flint rocks. Seven spaces have been provided in the adjacent lot for public safety department personnel

Fifty-eight unrestricted parking spaces, 15-handicap-accessible spaces and four 5-minute loading/ unloading spaces remain available for Rio Vista Park visitors. Park patrons may also use unrestricted onstreet parking along C.M. Allen Parkway.

Construction began on the Shared Use Pathway Project — a new ADA-compliant bicycle and pedestrian trail, which travels around Children's Park, Rio Vista Park and Ramon Lucio Park — on Feb. 17.

The new bicycle and pedestrian trail will stretch 1.7-miles and will connect the City of San Marcos’ Visitor's Center, several parks, downtown and Texas State University. The trail will tie into an existing trail east of the Hopkins Street bridge and end approximately 205 feet west of the southbound Interstate 35 access road.

The San Marcos River Shared Use Pathway Project was originally approved by the city council and submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation in May 2017. A TxDOT contractor will construct the project for an amount not to exceed $1,519,610. The city will provide $500,000 for the project.

The project is expected to be completed by early summer, weather permitting.