SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — San Marcos city staff said managed access points along the San Marcos River have helped keep the city cleaner, safer and less crowded during the peak summer months.
The river had its busiest year in 2024, and city staff said there were no signs of the crowds slowing, according to previous KXAN reporting. In May, the city of San Marcos agreed to pilot managed access points around Rio Vista Park, a high-traffic destination.
“The City Council presented consensus in September of 2024 to explore measures to generate new revenue, support costs, provide a safe environment, and clean up riverfront parks,” Parks and Recreation Department Director Jimmy Lee Case said at a recent City Council work meeting.
“There has been support for staff looking into installing beautiful perimeter fencing along riverfront promenades and creating designated managed access points,” she continued.
The temporary chain link fence was installed and manned on weekends and holidays during the summer. During the presentation, staff pointed to the program leading to a less crowded environment and more people adhering to the single-use container ban, which is passed in 2024.
“It allowed us to do education, multiple teaching points,” Case said.
The city’s report was echoed by local environmental group Eyes of the San Marcos River. She said she also noticed a decrease in litter in weekly river cleanups compared to the previous summer.
“We did the same cleanup again every Monday morning this summer, and it wasn’t bad,” said David Zambrano of The Eyes of the San Marcos River. “I think the managed access part helped with that.”
“If it works, I don’t want to see it go away,” Zambrano continued.
While many residents supported the new initiative, others felt the temporary fence was not visually appealing, city staff said.
Staff recommended continuing the program next year, but said they would explore more attractive options for future settings.
Besides improving the access program, San Marcos officials are also considering charging fees to non-residents who use the river. They said this could help generate revenue for parks management and keep the river healthy.