Santa Fe Park is one of the city of San Angelo's oldest parks, acquired in 1913 from the Santa Fe Railroad Company. It is centrally located in the city and along the North Concho River. It is about 50 acres in total and separated by several streets. To the west of the park is an affluent residential area, another historic park, Civic League Park (currently being conceptualized as the city's official botanical gardens) and Central High School. To the east is the city's downtown and commercial area. To the north is Loop 306 and to the south more residential area and historic Sunken Garden Park, which has recently seen the addition of the city's first sculpture gardens. Both Civic League and Sunken Gardens Park were redeveloped in the 1930's with WPA labor and have a character reflective of that time with stone walls, beds and gardens. Civic League Park is home to the International Water Lily Collection.

The river corridor along the west and southern boundaries of Santa Fe Park have recently been redeveloped with bank stabilization, trail and lighting improvements in 2013 and with a Visitors' Center in 2002 and a very popular playground to the far east in 2003. Santa Fe Park has been a golf course since the early 1920's. It is currently an under-played and under-utilized 9-hole unlighted walking course. There are 4 other 18-hole golf courses in the city, 2 of them public.

Being centrally located along the river, Santa Fe Park is highly visible and easily accessible for most citizens and visitors. Decline in golf course use and interest in the river improvements have spurred the idea that it is time to redevelop the park to serve all of the community and visitors as a regional park. Adjacent and recent redevelopments conceptual (botanical gardens) and real (sculpture gardens) have also added interest in reinvigorating Santa Fe Park.

SAAF is a community foundation located in San Angelo that has provided funding and fundraising assistance on several public/private partnerships over the past 15 years, such as a $17million building re-purposing project for a new downtown library, $26million restoration of the historic city auditorium and expansion of a new performing arts campus, and a $1million pocket park is under construction in downtown San Angelo, funded through private donations. SAAF desires to create another public/private effort to assist with the re-development of downtown park lands owned by the City of San Angelo as well as private owners of adjoining property.

SAAF requests qualifications for this project and the full RFQ can be seen at www.saafound.org/rfq