The Friends participate in projects to maintain and improve the Park.

♥ Your Park Tree Planting

Some time ago (May 29, 2014, to be exact), the Friends received an email from the National Recreation and Park Association, notifying us that Macy's department store had solicited donations from their customers for their ♥ Your Park Program, for which the corporation made a matching contribution.  While the donation was not huge, it was a welcome and unexpected windfall, and we spent some time brainstorming how to make the best use of it. 

We eventually settled on planting a mature specimen tree, and with the help of City Forester Ross Hosea, we were able to purchase a 20' Sierra Oak, a native Texas variety.  This variety is suitable to our climate, even though it is not common in the San Antonio area--which was one of advantages of picking it as a showpiece for the park. 

Because the City of San Antonio has a very aggressive tree preservation and planting program, the city was willing to help site, plant, and maintain the tree as part of their program, at no additional cost to the Friends of Comanche Lookout (what a deal!).

Bright and early on the morning of Friday, May 29, 2015, a crew from the City Forester arrived at Comanche Lookout Park with the tree, a front-end loader, and a water truck to plant the tree.

 After the planting location was scientifically marked with the heel of a shoe, the digging began.

  

Once the hole was deep enough, the tree crew wrestled the oak into the hole, straightened it up, and filled it in (with the approved mulch covering, of course).





Many thanks to the folks at Macy's Rolling Oaks;
Store Manager Janene Duke and her able assistant Leila Turner
were on hand to see the planting



and of course thanks to the city crew, posing with the tree



Notice anything about the dates?  It took exactly one year from notification to tree planting!  Don't get impatient if a park upgrade takes time, 'cause...it takes time.

Trail Markers Project

For a long time, this was the only "informative" trail marker in the entire park.  We never knew where the start was, but we knew we were a half-mile from it!


The Friends worked with the Parks and Recreation Department to design and locate trail markers throughout the park to keep visitors from getting lost, and to provide landmarks in the event of an emergency.



Grafitti Control

Grafitti is an ongoing problem at Comanche Lookout Park.  While not as severe as at other parks in San Antonio, we do get our share of taggers who vandalize the park and library.



Everyone can help prevent and eliminate grafitti:
  • If you see someone tagging, don't confront them, but do call 911--this is a crime in progress and the City of San Antonio takes it very seriously; they will prosecute.
  • If you see grafitti in the park, follow the four R's
    • READ IT - is this "kid stuff," vandals, or gangsters?
    • RECORD IT - note the location and, if possible, take a picture
    • REPORT IT - report it to 311 or the Park Police HQ (207-8590) or email to the SAPP CORE Supervisor, al.ballew@sanantonio.gov -- he loves pictures!
    • REMOVE IT - usually the Parks and Recreation Department will paint over grafitti after it is investigated


Bulletin Boards

  • The park has protected bulletin boards at the Nacogdoches parking lot, the Fox Run trailhead, and near the outdoor theater adjacent to the Semmes Library.
  • The bulletin boards are open for use by park patrons; please be courteous should you use them.
  • Only two rules:
    • NO TAPE!  Use the push pins provided (or even bring some extra).
    • Don't obscure other patrons postings.