The Cibolo Center for Conservation

To promote the conservation of nature through education, stewardship, and community connections.

Grant Focus:

Impact San Antonio funds will cover full renovation of the Nature Center and Herff Farm restrooms, including design, demolition, plumbing and drainage improvements, and installation of tile, fixtures, trim, paint, dividers, sinks, and counters. Funding will also support contractor labor and project oversight. These upgrades will address safety concerns—like overflowing sinks and slippery floors—and improve accessibility, hygiene, and functionality for children and community members . From 2023–2025, The Cibolo spent over $15,000 on emergency plumbing repairs across three vendors, a patchwork approach that is no longer sustainable. This investment will permanently resolve chronic failures, reduce staff burden, and ensure long-term operational efficiency. With reliable restrooms, The Cibolo can expand access to nature education and recreation for the 40,000+ visitors it serves each year.

Grant Year: 2025

Focus Area: Environment, Recreation & Preservation

High Impact Grant

Grant Impact:

Specific:

This project will eliminate recurring restroom closures that currently disrupt an average of 16 events and affect 540 people annually. Renovations will restore over 211 hours of lost instructional time and allow us to serve an additional 550 people per year—a 13.5% increase in children’s programming alone. Improved capacity and accessibility will ensure safer, uninterrupted learning experiences for all students, including those from Title 1 schools.

Measurable:

We will track program attendance and satisfaction rates, event disruptions, lost instructional hours, general visitor complaints, and restroom uptime using registration logs, incident reports, and staff maintenance records. Outcomes will include, ideally, zero programming disruptions (down from 16/year), restoration of 211+ instructional hours, a 13.5% increase in program capacity, and full restroom availability for an estimated 40,000+ annual visitors.

Achievable:

We have a clear implementation plan, secured contractor estimates, and a track record of completing capital projects on time and within budget. With Impact SA support, we can quickly mobilize to begin construction. Program and facilities staff will track improvements in real time, and our team is well-positioned to absorb the increased participation projected from fully functional, upgraded restrooms.

Relevant:

This project supports our mission by ensuring safe access to nature-based education and aligns with the Environment, Recreation & Preservation focus by improving infrastructure that sustains outdoor learning. Functional restrooms are critical for hosting youth programs, Title 1 field trips, and nature camps— expanding access, enhancing recreational use, and preserving the integrity of high-use public facilities.

Time-Bound:

We expect to begin serving more children and families through fully renovated bathrooms by October 2026, following final inspections. Measurable improvements will be tracked from Fall 2026 through Summer 2027, aligning with our program calendar and the two-year Impact SA grant period. Final impact data and a summary video will be submitted with our end-of-2027 grant report, demonstrating the full scope of project outcomes.