Eisenhower Park: From Army Land to Public Parkland in San Antonio
By Trey Wilson, Real Estate, Land Use and Water Lawyer – San Antonio, TX
Just south of Camp Bullis, in the southernmost fringes of Hill Country brush and limestone escarpments, sits Eisenhower Park — 320 acres of rugged, scenic terrain managed by the City of San Antonio. Today it’s a public park, but it wasn’t always. The story of how this land changed hands — from federal control to municipal stewardship — reveals a unique chapter in our region’s real estate and land use history.
Military Origins: Part of the Camp Bullis Training Grounds
For decades, the land that is now Eisenhower Park was owned by the U.S. Army as part of the larger Camp Bullis military reservation. This portion of land was used for training exercises and as a buffer zone. While technically undeveloped, it was under federal control, and off-limits to the public.
Key real estate fact: Federal land can only be transferred to local governments through specific congressional authorizations or military surplus processes — both of which are tightly controlled and subject to extensive conditions.
The Transfer: From Federal to Municipal Ownership
In the 1970s, as San Antonio grew northward and recreational space became a priority, the City began seeking additional parkland. Negotiations with the Department of the Army led to the transfer of a 320-acre tract. The deal wasn’t a sale — it was a federal land conveyance under the General Services Administration’s surplus property program, conditioned on the land being used “for public park and recreational purposes only.”
This kind of conveyance creates a legal obligation similar to a restrictive covenant. If the City ever attempts to use the land for something other than public recreation, the federal government can take it back — a classic example of a “reversionary interest.”
Legal Restrictions Still in Place Today
Many park visitors don’t realize that Eisenhower Park is still subject to federal reverter clauses. These restrictions can limit the City’s ability to build permanent commercial facilities or allow certain kinds of private use. From a real estate law perspective, it’s a powerful reminder that public land often comes with strings attached.
Concerns About Contamination and Military Use Legacy
Like many properties formerly controlled by the military, Eisenhower Park was subject to environmental review before its transfer. While the land was not heavily developed, it had been used for field training and exercises — raising community questions about the potential for soil or groundwater contamination.
Concerns included unexploded ordnance, petroleum residue, and legacy chemical use from vehicle maintenance or disposal practices. Although no widespread contamination was found in the specific transferred tract, these risks required site inspections and were flagged in early land transfer documents.
From a legal perspective, these concerns are not just environmental — they’re real estate issues. If contamination had been present, it could have triggered ongoing liability under federal law, complicated title insurance, and limited the City’s ability to develop recreational infrastructure.
I’ve advised private landowners adjacent to military property, and due diligence — especially Phase I environmental site assessments — is critical before taking title to surplus federal land or lands surrounding current or former military installations. In Eisenhower’s case, the land was cleared for public use, but the record underscores the need for transparency and documentation when acquiring former military property.
What the Land Was Before the Army
Before the Army’s acquisition in the early 20th century, this land was part of larger ranching and hunting tracts held by private owners. Title records from the late 1800s and early 1900s show various Spanish land grant successors and speculative land companies acquiring large parcels west of San Antonio, many of which were later taken or purchased by the federal government as the military expanded.
Few structures were ever built on this specific tract, but water rights, grazing leases, and survey boundary disputes were all part of the historical title record — and that’s not uncommon for land with limited access and fragmented ownership history. If you’re buying or selling ranchland near Camp Bullis today, many of these legacy issues still crop up.
Eisenhower Park Today: A Legal and Environmental Legacy
Today, Eisenhower Park is a reminder that public land doesn’t always come from a civic-minded donor or a straightforward purchase. Sometimes, it’s the result of long negotiations, title clearances, environmental screening, and strict legal covenants that shape how we use the land decades later.
As a real estate lawyer in San Antonio, I find Eisenhower Park — one of my favorite hiking spots — a perfect example of the deep legal roots beneath even our most natural spaces. Deeds matter. Restrictions endure. And land always tells a story — you just have to know how to read it.
Need help navigating public land issues, historic restrictions, or complex title matters? Contact me at
www.sanantoniorealestatelawyer.com.
