The grand opening of the newly reconstructed two-acre Buelow Park, 300 Autumn Drive, will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 1 pm. The park is named in honor of the City’s first mayor, William “Bill” Buelow. Buelow family members will be in attendance to mark the occasion.
The $1.5 million project is located in the Richmar neighborhood and runs along Autumn Drive between Knoll Road and Pico Avenue. The park includes a playground, water-play feature, basketball courts and other amenities.
The park was removed during construction of the Sprinter line. Funding for the replacement project was provided through a federal Community Development Block Grant and redevelopment funds.
“This is a welcomed addition to this neighborhood, which has been historically under served by parkland and open space,” said City Manager Paul Malone. “It is also a great expression of how important redevelopment and grant funds work to improve our community.”
The Richmar neighborhood, which is the oldest in San Marcos, has been undergoing major transformation over the last few years thanks to the City’s concentrated revitalization efforts in the area. The neighborhood recently welcomed the brand new 103-unit Autumn Terrace Apartments, a mixed-use affordable housing complex that revitalized one of the most blighted areas in San Marcos.
Other recent improvements in the neighborhood include the narrowing of Autumn Drive and the extension of Tiger Way; opening of the new San Marcos Elementary School; construction of the Marcos Street At-Grade Pedestrian Crossing; and the revitalization of the Sage Pointe Apartments (opening January 19).
Future plans for the Richmar neighborhood call for a new community park to be built adjacent to San Marcos Elementary; a new park north of Richmar Avenue between Firebird Lane and Twin Oaks Valley Road; a future affordable senior housing south of Richmar Avenue between Pico Avenue and Firebird Lane; and three additional affordable housing complexes.
I am a former resident of San Marcos, and I’m a grand nephew of the first Mayor Bill Buelow. I didn’t know the park was named after him. So glad to see that it was done! He did a lot for the city, even donated office space for the first city hall above his barber shop. He really loved the city, and was so proud to see how things had grown in mostly a positive way.