Trash and Tranquility
RL Batiste, October 2023
Driving down a partially patched road in the “back corner” of Cibolo leads you to a secluded park that possesses a blissful creek that serves as a tranquil place that allows one to gather thoughts, engage in outdoor activities and build bonds within a family. The creek displays a vibrant variety of green vegetation along the creek’s bank that serves as a resting place for waterfowl among other animals that cohabitate within this space as they live their lives in harmony.
Cibolo Creek at Crescent Bend Park is located between the cities of Cibolo and Schertz Texas, a suburban community on the eastern edge of San Antonio. For decades, the creek has served the people and the organizations of the surrounding communities with the ability to enjoy scenic views and the ability to take part in class field trips. The ninety-six mile creek sources at Turkey Knob near Boerne, Texas, and ends by joining the San Antonio River in Karnes County. The creek provides opportunities for walking, fishing, canoeing, and swimming.
Although the creek serves as a place of relaxation and nature activities, there’s debate whether the water in Cibolo Creek is safe for recreation and for food consumption. Cibolo Creek accumulates a lot of debris. This accumulation is not only an eye soar but harms the wildlife that use to creek to survive. Over the last ten years the surrounding area near the creek have seen an increase in housing and apartment development, these development have led to increase traffic in the creek’s footprint creating more illegal dumping which adversely affects the creek’s ecology. Another question surrounds whether or not the sewage that is dumped into the creek makes the fish safe for consumption.
Cibolo Creek at Crescent Bend Park has great potential in becoming a serene place for all to enjoy provided solutions are developed. For instance, if trash bins were provided (there are currently none) would the creek be better maintained by individual users. If the amount of sewage was regulated by local officials would that limit the fear of consuming fish that swim in the creek.