San Marcos, Texas, is a city often defined by its natural beauty and the vibrancy of its community. But as the city continues to grow and attract more visitors, officials are grappling with the challenges—and opportunities—of managing both its beloved San Marcos River and the quality of its public schools. This summer and fall, two major initiatives have taken center stage: an ambitious effort to limit overcrowding and pollution along the San Marcos River, and a determined push to improve the academic standing of Bowie Elementary School, which recently received a disappointing grade from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Let’s start with the river, a popular destination for locals and out-of-towners alike. According to Chron, in May 2025, the City of San Marcos rolled out a pilot program designed to address years of mounting concerns about litter, safety, and overcrowding at Rio Vista Park—a hotspot along the San Marcos River. Temporary chain-link fencing and gated, managed access points were installed around the park. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, park ambassadors staffed these gates on weekends and holidays, keeping a watchful eye and educating visitors about the park’s rules. Weekdays remained open, except during extended holiday weekends.
Jamie Lee Case, the city’s Parks and Recreation director, told the city council, “The city council provided consensus in September of 2024 to explore measures to generate new revenue, to support costs, to provide a safe environment, and clean up the riverfront parks.” She added, “There was support of staff researching the installation of an aesthetically pleasing perimeter fencing along the riverfront parks and creating specific managed access points.”
The results? City staff reported a river that was cleaner, safer, and—perhaps most crucially—less crowded than the record-setting 2024 season. There were fewer violations involving glass, Styrofoam, charcoal, tables, and alcohol. Injuries connected to intoxication and other life-safety concerns also declined. The city’s park ambassadors, as City Marshall Tiffany Williams put it, “were additional sets of eyes. They were at managed access test points, letting people know the rules, pointing out the signage on the fence, letting them know if there was anything they were bringing in—like a huge bag of Styrofoam plates—they were letting them know that's a prohibited item.”
But perhaps the most telling sign of the program’s success came from the local environmental group The Eyes of the San Marcos River. David Zambrano, the group’s education and outreach coordinator, who has led Monday morning cleanups at Rio Vista Park for the last two summers, saw a visible difference. “I think managed access by way of the temporary fencing that was in place worked,” Zambrano said. “We did pick up significantly less [trash], and I do think the fencing had a large part in that.”
Still, not everyone is convinced the changes are a panacea. Zambrano, while supportive of the access measures and even open to a fee structure, cautioned that enforcement of existing rules remains crucial. “I do understand why that was necessary, maybe for the first season. But I feel it was lax, and maybe part of the issue of continuing litter issues this year.”
City staff agree there’s room for improvement. They’ve recommended continuing the managed access program next summer, but with better-looking fencing and more formalized entry points. They’re also considering introducing a river access fee for non-residents—$5 per person or $25 per group—to help offset parks department costs and manage overcrowding. This would supplement the parking fees for non-residents, which were introduced in July 2025 and now range from $5 per hour to $25 on holidays and special events. San Marcos residents, meanwhile, can still park for free after registering their vehicles online.
Why all the fuss about non-resident access? City officials estimate that about 70 percent of weekend riverfront visitors are from out of town, with most hailing from Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. The influx of visitors has been both a boon for local businesses and a headache for city planners, who must balance economic benefits with the need to preserve the river’s ecosystem and ensure a pleasant experience for all.
As the city weighs the next steps, the debate continues among residents. Some support the fencing and access controls, citing the cleaner river and improved safety. Others criticize the appearance of the temporary fence and worry about the impact of fees on accessibility. The city council is set to revisit the issue in the coming months, considering both aesthetics and the possibility of a more permanent fee structure.
While the riverfront parks have been the focus of environmental stewardship, San Marcos’ public schools have faced their own set of challenges. On October 20, 2025, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released its latest campus ratings, and Bowie Elementary was handed a ‘D’—a disappointing mark, but one that actually represented progress from the ‘F’ grades the school received in the previous two outlooks, according to KXAN.
At a school board meeting that same day, San Marcos CISD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Terrence Sanders addressed the community’s concerns. “We should not be in last, in fact Bowie did see improvement last year,” Dr. Sanders said. “It’s not the improvement [we want]. Obviously we are never going to be thrilled with seeing our campus remain at ‘D.’”
Bowie Elementary Principal Jessica Berry echoed his sentiment, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and support. “I have never felt once like I’m doing this alone and it has been very refreshing and really appreciated the level of support that’s been given,” Berry said.
TEA has made it clear that incremental progress isn’t enough; the school must achieve at least a ‘C’ rating by 2026 and a ‘B’ rating by 2027 as part of a formal turnaround plan. To reach these goals, Berry outlined several strategies: sticking closely to instructional plans, boosting student growth in math and reading, and closing achievement gaps—especially for emergent bilingual students and those in special education.
Another focus is parent engagement. The school has been reaching out through weekly newsletters and highlighting the importance of student attendance. “Kids need to come to school,” Berry noted, underscoring the foundational role that regular attendance plays in academic achievement.
It’s a tall order, but the school community appears determined. The district’s leadership, staff, and families are all pulling in the same direction, hoping that with a renewed focus and clear benchmarks, Bowie Elementary can rise to meet the state’s expectations.
In San Marcos, the efforts to protect a cherished river and uplift a struggling school reflect a city at a crossroads—balancing growth with sustainability, and high standards with compassion. As both initiatives move forward, residents and officials alike will be watching closely, eager to see whether these changes can deliver lasting benefits for the entire community.
