Res 2026-017 Approving the City of San Marcos Historic Preservation Plan

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PROTECTED PLACES Federal, state, and local government and non -profits help protect San Marcos' cultural and natural heritage, including the San Marcos River and the Blanco River, through a variety of tools from local parks and trails to state monitored conservation easements. NATURAL AREAS The City of San Marcos has six natural areas consisting of more than 1,200 acres with more than 22 miles of trails. Some of this land is in permanent conservation easements held by the state, non-profit partners, and private individuals, helping to preserve natural resources that help illustrate San Marcos' pre - contact context. PROSPECT PARK NATURAL AREA, 1999 The first natural area created in San Marcos, Prospect Park (Prospect Street) was established as nine acres in reaction to developers planning to clear the land, which sits on a porous section of the Edwards Aquifer. The park contains ashe juniper groves, grassland meadows, ephemeral wetlands, and oak mottes. Interpretive signs, a large compass, and The Learning Tree provide seating and education opportunities in the lower meadow. SCHULLE CANYON NATURAL AREA, 1999 Schulle Canyon Natural Area was established in 1999 after the City of San Marcos traded land along 1-35 in order to protect 21-acres of greenspace from subdivision development. The area is home to a variety of birds such as Kinglets, Thrushes, Wrens, Chickadees, and Cardinals. BLANCO SHOALS NATURAL AREA, 2002 The Blanco Shoals Natural Area is an undeveloped 89 acres of undeveloped land along the Blanco River, east of 1-35. In 2002, the Holt family donated the land. The area consists of bluffs and shoals along the river; Pecan, Cottonwood, Sycamore, and Anancuas trees. PURGATORY CREEK NATURAL AREA, 2003, AND PURGATORY CREEK NATURE PRESERVE, 2022 The Purgatory Creek Natural Area is adjacent to the Prospect Park Natural Area. Hays County acquired Purgatory Creek Natural Area to create a 1,068-acre conservation easement proposed and sponsored by the Hill Country Conservancy to be funded through the 2020 Hays County Parks and Open Space Bond. RINGTAIL RIDGE NATURAL AREA, 2007 The Ringtail Ridge Natural Area is on the former site of the Hughson Meat Company off of Old Ranch Road 12. The 41-acre natural area includes three ponds that provide birding and bug observations that differ from the drier Purgatory Creek Natural Area. In 2007, he City of San Marcos and SMGA received a National Tails Grant from TPWD for accessibility improvements. PRESERVATION IN THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS 79