A walk to remember

LOCAL ART

City seeks public insight on Dunbar History Walk project

History walks through the footsteps of those who honor and remember it. The city of San Marcos Destination Services team is setting out to make the sidewalk loop around Dunbar Park a walk to remember. The Dunbar History Walk is a multi-year project which aims to acknowledge, remember and honor places, people and pioneers that are important to the Dunbar community. As a part of the public art program, the city will install individual plaques for the places and people around the walking path with new installations added annually.

Additionally there will be QR codes that direct visitors to the SMTXarts.com website with more information about the person or place honored on the plaque, including photos, oral histories and newspaper articles.

The city is hosting public information sessions to allow the public a chance to ask questions about the project and application process to submit a name or place for consideration. Meetings will take place Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Dunbar Recreation Center and Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the San Marcos Activity Center.

“The project was first brought to the city about a year ago by the Dunbar Sistas Foundation,” said Charlotte Wattigny, Creative and Market Manager for The City of San Marcos Destination Services. “They wanted a way to acknowledge, remember and honor the people and places of the Dunbar neighborhood.”

Wattigny also thanked Mittie Miller, Deborah Webster, the Dunbar Heritage Association, The Calaboose African American History Museum and the local residents who agreed to serve on the planning and review committee to evaluate submissions.

“The Dunbar neighborhood has a lot of rich history that must be told,” Dunbar Sistas founding member Mittie Miller said.

The Dunbar Park itself is designated as a Lone Star Legacy Park, which is defined as a park that holds special prominence in the local community and the state of Texas.

At the first open house information session, community members asked questions about project funding and raised concerns about aesthetics and safety regarding the proposed installations. The funds for the project will come out of the Hotel Occupancy Tax.

Submissions may include community advocates, pioneers and businesses or business owners. Submissions can be submitted online or through a paper submission available at the San Marcos Public Library or the San Marcos Tourist Information Center.

Multiple submissions will be accepted each year through Feb 28.

The Submission Review Committee will research and vote for the top 10 to be installed, with plans to install 15 the inaugural year. If a submission meets the criteria but does not get selected, it can roll over into next year.

Community outreach is set from February to March, with March through May scheduled to review submissions and finalize selections for the current year. Design and production is scheduled for April and June, with installation expected in July and August.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled for Fall of 2026.

For more information or to access the submission form visit the website at visitsanmarcos. com/arts/experience/ public-art/dunbar. For questions contact the Destination Services team at arts@sanmarcostx. gov or call 512393-8416.