In early 2012, then-City Councilman Reed Williams approached San Antonio Sports about adopting a school park program that would be similar to one he had seen in Houston. A school park is a park on school grounds that is open to the public outside of school hours. Williams and San Antonio Sports leaders like George Block began the school park, or SPARK, program to create wider access to parks and recreational facilities.
In April 2012, the City Council approved the SPARK plan, and the first school park began construction that same year at Sky Harbour Elementary. Every SPARK project was unique and could include walking trails, upgraded playgrounds and exercise stations. In 2016, San Antonio Sports received a grant from the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation to install prominent gates at the entrance to each park to signal the parks are open to everyone.
As of 2024, San Antonio Sports has opened 39 school parks across the area
. The parks support Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s 10-minute walk challenge, which sets a goal of giving every neighborhood access to a park within 10 minutes of its homes. The City of San Antonio, City Council members and San Antonio Parks & Recreation continue to work with San Antonio Sports to provide widespread access to parks and sports facilities throughout the city.