Crowds gathering to camp for Easter weekend

City parks hosting Easter camping tradition

Easter is just around the corner, and that means many people are setting up camp, getting ready for the weekend.

There are 12 parks that got the OK from the city for camping this year and while Brackenridge Park has long been a popular site for many campers, some people are moving their Easter festivities to other parks around the city.

Josie Moncado is setting up at Roosevelt Park for the first time this year.

Moncado said she and her family had always set up at Brackenridge Park, but that it was just too crowded there.

She said they are now starting their Easter tradition at Roosevelt.

"It's nice," Moncado. "It's roomy so far."

Jessie Martinez also spent his Thursday afternoon setting up camp at Roosevelt Park.

Martinez said this is his second year to celebrate Easter with his family at Roosevelt, but this year he is expecting a lot of people.

"I got about eight nieces and nephews and I have a grandnephew, brothers, sisters, cousins," said Martinez. "I have a good 50 to 60 people, something like that."

Martinez said with all the renovations to the River Walk here and all the new playground features, Roosevelt Park is quickly becoming a popular site.

"They got a lot of things for the kids to do," he said. "They got a pavilion, a little rock climbing wall, things like that. It makes it a lot more fun for the kids."

This is also Manuel Perez's first Easter at Roosevelt Park.

Perez said his family is setting up in style with a tent complete with a fan and a light and of course, they have a lot of food.

"We're cooking up steaks and sausage, all the works," said Perez. "We're going to get ready for Easter Sunday."

Citizens will be allowed to camp overnight at these parks:

  • Brackenridge Park, 3700 N. St. Mary's (excludes the Brackenridge parking facility)
  • Eisenhower, 19399 N.W. Military Highway
  • J Street, 3500 J Street
  • Miller's Pond, 6175 Old Pearsall Rd.
  • McAllister Park, 13102 Jones Maltsberger
  • Olmos, 600 Devine Rd. (allowed only in Devine Road picnic area)
  • O.P. Schnabel, 9606 Bandera Rd.
  • Roosevelt, 331 Roosevelt Ave.
  • San Pedro, 1315 San Pedro Ave.
  • Southside Lions, 3100 Hiawatha
  • Southside Lions East, 3900 Pecan Valley
  • Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati (excludes the Island House and gym areas)

    For a list of recent stories Stephanie Serna has done, click here.


About the Author:

Stephanie Serna is a weekday anchor on Good Morning San Antonio and GMSA at 9 a.m. She joined the KSAT 12 News team in November 2009 as a general assignments reporter.