San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Expanded in Texas

July 10, 2025

National Park Trust Transfers Second Historically Significant Property to UNESCO World Heritage Site Expanding Buffer for Urban Encroachment

Washington, D.C. (July 10, 2025) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – National Park Trust announces the transfer of a second historically significant parcel of land to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located within the park boundary in Bexar County, Texas, the 0.35-acre parcel preserves a portion of the east bank of the historic San Juan acequia, or 18th-century irrigation canal system that was vital in sustaining agricultural production at the Spanish Colonial missions. Since San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States, the added land further protects the park from urban encroachment.

The original owner of the property deeded the parcel to the Park Trust, who contacted the National Park Service (NPS) and learned of their great interest in acquiring the land. The newly transferred property lies adjacent to a 44-acre tract that the Park Trust conveyed to NPS in 2021, including the matching west bank of the acequia. Together, these lands enhance the park’s cultural and historical integrity. The missions and surrounding lands earned their UNESCO World Heritage Site distinction for accurately preserving cultural landscapes, authentic structures, and enduring representation of early Spanish Colonial life in North America.

Grace Lee, executive director of National Park Trust, stated, “This parcel is a perfect example of how even the smallest pieces of land can play a vital role in protecting our national park sites. We are grateful for our ongoing relationship with San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and our long-term partnership with the Hunton Andrews Kurth law firm, whose pro bono legal guidance was instrumental in completing this project. Transferring this land to the park demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting our nation’s most treasured places and ensuring that future generations can explore and connect with our shared history.”

To learn more about this project, please visit: https://parktrust.org/san-antonio-missions-national-historical-park-tx/

ABOUT NATIONAL PARK TRUST

National Park Trust’s mission is to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow. Since 1983, the Park Trust has acquired many of the missing pieces of our national parks, benefiting 56 national park sites across the country. Our national youth education and family initiatives, including our Buddy Bison, College Ambassador and Military Family Programs, and National Kids to Parks Day, serve tens of thousands of children annually and cultivate future park stewards. We believe our public parks, lands, and waters should be cared for, enjoyed, and preserved by all for current and future generations. Find out more at parktrust.org.

Media Contact: Ivan Levin at 540.818.5818 or ivan@parktrust.org.