The Plan   The ParkMapsAcronyms

1. A Brief History

(A broader history is on file with the Charette Proceedings.)

In her will, read in 1971, Norma Friedrich Ward offered 185 acres of land and $100,000 to establish a park.  The park was to be a wildlife sanctuary and was dedicated to the preservation of  native vegetation.

In 1973 The City of San Antonio accepted the Ward bequeathment and an additional 52 acres given by Glen A. Martin and W. L. Matthews.

In 1974 The City of San Antonio with participation of the U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department commissioned improvements.  The Emilie and Albert Friedrich Park was formally dedicated on August 31, 1978.

In 1983 the Bexar Audubon Society selected the Park for its on-going Adopt-A-Park program.

In 1989 the Friends of Friedrich Wilderness Park was formed to accept longer term stewardship responsibilities at the Park.  FOF was incorporated in 1990.

In 1991 FOF entered into a 25 year agreement with the City of San Antonio and SAPAR to promote conservation and management of the Park.

In 1994 San Antonio voters approved a bond election which provided $300,000 for improvements at FWP.

In 1996 FOF and SAPAR negotiated the acquisition of  7 acres of land between the park boundary and Milsa Drive and commissioned plans for an amphitheater and stabilization of an old stone house ruin.

As the FWPCMP is being published, City Council, SAPAR and TPWD are completing financial arrangements for the amphitheater project. These arrangements will also result in the transfer to the Park of 40 acres of adjacent land in two tracts from owners of the Woodland Hills Subdivision.

These land acquisitions and transfers will increase the Park's size to 284 acres.