The San Antonio River Authority has been awarded the world's top prize for river management and development, the Thiess International RiverPrize, awarded by the International River Foundation, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The award was celebrated today at the Pearl Ampitheater on, appropriately, the San Antonio River.
Steven Shauer of SARA says the Australia-based Foundation honored the San Antonio River for its influence in economic development, ecological renewal, and historic preservation.
"That blend of both economic development potential and environmental restoration is what pushed us over the edge this year," he said.
San Antonio competed with river developments from Alaska, the U.L. and the Philippines for the top prize.SARA had been a finalist once before in 2014, and Schauer says the designation of the Spanish Colonial Missions, which were built along the River, helped push the San Antonio River over the top.
"The Missions are part of UNESCO's World Heritage and the River was an important part of that nomination package," he said.
The honor recognizes local officials for investing more than a half billion dollars on improvements to the Mission Reach and Museum Reach of the San Antonio River, and citing the development of major economic generators like the Pearl Complex on the banks of the river.
"This a great honor for the San Antonio River and our community,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson W. Wolff. “We have made significant investments to improve and restore the river and the International Riverprize recognizes our efforts."
'Theiss,' by the way, rhymes with 'peace.'