San Antonio is getting a world-class arboretum on the south side, and most people don't even know it yet.

In this episode of Greater 210, Jeff Webster sits down with Adriana Quinones, CEO of Arboretum San Antonio, to talk about the transformation of the former Republic Golf Course into one of the most ambitious green space projects in Texas. Adriana shares how a career in public horticulture brought her to San Antonio, what a 20-year master plan looks like on 235 acres, and why this project is about far more than trees.

They cover the planned canopy walk over Salado Creek, the veterans grove, the nature center, and how a Fiesta event drew over 1,100 people before a single phase has been built. Adriana also explains why the arboretum is an economic development tool, not just a community amenity.

Chapters:

• (00:00) – Welcome: Who Is Adriana Quinones?
• (01:08) – From Ohio Volunteer to Arboretum CEO: A Career in Public Horticulture
• (03:12) – The Vision Behind Arboretum San Antonio and the Role of Henry Cisneros
• (03:33) – The Site: 235 Acres, 250-Year-Old Trees, and the South Side Intentionality
• (05:11) – The Master Plan: Four Phases, 20 Years, and a National Award-Winning Design
• (07:26) – The Canopy Walk: One of the Longest in Texas
• (10:07) – Fiesta 2026: 1,100 People and a Preview of What's Coming
• (12:17) – What's Next: Tours, Volunteers, and Phase 0 Activation
• (17:27) – Why Green Space Is an Economic Development Asset

Links and Resources:

• Arboretum San Antonio - https://www.arboretumsa.org/
• Greater San Antonio Chamber - https://www.sachamber.org/

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