SAN ANTONIO – It's been one year since the San Antonio missions acquired World Heritage designation and this week, the city of San Antonio is celebrating that honor.
"These missions are our history," said Father David Garcia, archdiocesan director of the Old Spanish Missions. "They are our tradition and our culture and they're our spirit, because they were founded for the spiritual purpose. So it can represent the spirit of San Antonio."
The missions were designated as a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization last year.
The designation is the first in Texas. And to celebrate the first anniversary of the designation, the city, the county, the National Parks Service and the San Antonio River Authority are putting together a World Heritage Festival.
"It's kind of an awareness for the community of what that means," said District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran. "And, also, for all of us to embrace it and celebrate it."
Viagran said the city's working on adding signage as well as street and sidewalk improvements around the missions.
The city and county are also getting ready to transform the San Pedro Creek area.
Aside from widening the creek and adding trails and some landscaping, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the creek will also reflect the history of San Antonio.
"We're going to have written inscriptions there, artwork along there. Colorful, much different than what you see on the Riverwalk today," Wolff said. "When you are on the creek, you'll know you are in San Antonio, Texas. It's going to be quite different."
The groundbreaking ceremony for the San Pedro Creek Project kicks off on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Fox Tech High School football field.
A full schedule of World Heritage Festival events is available at www.worldheritagefestival.org