The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story.

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My husband and I moved to our home in Eden in April of 1985. Bob was still serving in the United States Air Force then, and I was a member of the Air Force’s Civilian Service. After spending nine consecutive years in Germany, Bob received an assignment to what was then Kelly Air Force Base where we would both work.  

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My first time in San Antonio was in November of 1984, and the weather was absolutely wonderful. It was almost Thanksgiving and people here were still swimming in their pools while back in Germany, we had already begun to experience what was to be one of the coldest winters in decades.

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I was ready to start packing for the move.   

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After a week looking at countless homes, we chose a lot and a floor plan in Eden. The location in north San Antonio was ideal for us, and all the neighborhood homes were constructed on double lots, allowing more space for my love of gardening and safe areas for our future grandchildren to play.

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It was a bit of a drive across town to work, but these military nomads were excited to have their first real home. Our son would be able to attend MacArthur High School, the airport was only 10 minutes away, there were plenty of entertainment venues nearby and the choice of nearby restaurants seemed endless. Did I fail to mention how quickly we fell for Texas-style barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine?  

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Eden was in the second stage of development then. The house would be ready for us in April, and our wonderful friends who lived in a nearby subdivision sent a weekly video and report on our home’s construction progress. 

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Meanwhile, back in Germany and prepping for our move, I began to crow to friends about how I would take a lap in the pool for them if they would take a run down the slope for me. Later, I choked on that crow when we picked up a copy of the Stars and Stripes newspaper and a January headline read: “San  Antonio buried in a foot of snow.” I was shocked and wondered how that could be. But after living here for nearly four decades, I’ve learned God loves to make life very interesting in San Antonio. 

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April finally came, and we moved into our home in Eden. We began to meet our new neighbors, and it was almost like living back on base. So many were also active or retired military. What a perfect fit for us!

I had experienced some anxiety about the city’s size, but I soon discovered San Antonio was like no big city I could imagine. It was big, but its unique cultural charm and the friendly people gave it the warmth and welcome of a small town. 

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During the initial stages of Eden’s development, the primary access was the main entrance at Tavern Oaks. There are multiple access streets now, but Eden has always been known for its quaint little duck pond at the main entrance on Tavern Oaks. Young and old alike love to go to the pond to visit with and feed the ducks.

When Eden was still being developed, the pond was well-maintained. However, when the development of Eden closed, the neighborhood would have 1,227 homes — but no resources for the maintenance and care of the pond, as this was prior to today’s popular housing developments with mandatory homeowner's associations.

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In 1990, residents of Eden realized the problem at hand, and a small group pulled together to form Eden’s voluntary HOA. What an effort to take on, but I am so thankful these volunteer guardians of Eden didn’t back down from the challenge. I didn’t have much time to be as actively involved with Eden’s HOA in our early years here. Why, between work, family and travel commitments, I can’t even recall finding time for all those pool laps I promised! 

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Since retirement in 2006, I have found volunteering with Eden’s HOA to be rewarding in ways beyond measure. One of my early volunteer roles was helping to lead a parade from one of our inner street intersections to the duck pond.

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Eden had several fun events at the pond each year, and we got to know our neighbors at separate block parties. Sadly, we have since lost several of our original neighbors; but Eden continues to host outreach events that help keep residents close.

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There are vendor markets, neighborhood socials and special holiday events like the holiday lighting ceremony at the pond. But, the two events I am most proud of are Eden’s annual Veterans Day ceremony and the annual food drive to support the San Antonio Food Bank.

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The heart of Eden is on full display the first Saturday in December when it seems everyone comes with bags of food and donations. And, it is so rewarding to be able to honor the veterans of Eden and our surrounding neighborhoods every year on Veterans Day. This year it is my hope to be able to have banners of our veterans on every post that lines Eden’s frontage.

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I will always be grateful for the military assignment that brought us to San Antonio 39 years ago — and to know the heartbeat of Eden has not changed after all these years. It remains a neighborhood where neighbor helps neighbor.

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In 2018, when the duck pond’s clay liner cracked, all hearts beat as one while residents of Eden and our surrounding neighborhoods pulled together to protect this tiny bit of nature found at Eden Duck Pond. Volunteers took turns filling kiddie pools daily and rescuing and relocating turtles while raising funds to restore the pond.

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Eden still often faces funding shortfalls and various other concerns but, through the unified efforts of Eden volunteers, the support of our local city council leadership and our great first responders only minutes away, Eden rises above the challenges. A place called Eden must be special if it is to live up to its name — and I think it does. 

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