Friends of Castroville Regional Park
Working together since 2007 -- with over 10,000 documented volunteer hours -- to make Castroville Regional Park the best it can be
Mission
The mission of the non-profit Friends of Castroville Regional Park (FCRP) is education, preservation, conservation, maintenance, and improvement of the Castroville Regional Park in Castroville, Texas.
What We Do
We organize and oversee monthly work sessions, maintain the Hiking Trails, host events, contribute amenities such as the Amphitheatre and The Botanical Garden Trail, and support the park staff in multiple ways.
Partnerships and Special Projects in the Regional Park*Mary Irish Botanical Garden funded by the FCRP*Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance grant for the design of a Constructed Wetland Project*Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant to update signage on all the Hiking Trails*Texas Water Resources Institute Medina River Riparian Protection Project (pdf)*Bexar Branches Alliance Tree Planting*Texas Master Naturalists Purple Martin High Rise Project*City of Castroville Parks Master Plan
How You Can Help
There are many opportunities to volunteer: share knowledge, suggest ideas, participate in fundraising, lead a tour, teach a class, pick up trash, maintain a garden, maintain a trail, or adopt a project of your own.Donations are an excellent opportunity for citizens and park patrons to give back to the park. The Castroville Regional Park's needs cannot be met through public funding alone. We need your help to enhance and maintain our park as its treasure. Contact us on how to donate.
Join Us!
The Regional Park is amazing because of volunteers -- like you.Sign up for our newsletter to learn about our history and upcoming events in our dynamic park!
Friends of Castroville Regional Park
[email protected]
PO Box 173
Castroville, Texas 78009Castroville Regional Park Physical Address
816 Alsace St.
Castroville, Texas 78009
Photos provided by Troy Wagner except for slideshow.© Friends of Castroville Regional Park.Friends of Castroville Park is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 26-0271506.
Board of Directors
Top Row
Patrick Conner - Special Project Coordinator
As a member of the FCRP since 2007 and on the Board of Directors since 2014, my focus has been the protection of and increased public access to the unique natural resources within the Castroville Regional Park. I coordinate Hiking Trail maintenance and construction through monthly volunteer workdays along with managing many of the FCRP’s special projects, listed above. I am currently consulting at Wildlife Habitat Federation and have worked at TPWD, Texas Nature Conservancy, and USDA-NRCS.Hunter Gibson - TreasurerHelen Delavan - Founding Member
Past President of FCRP since 2007; Past chair of City of Castroville Parks and Rec Advisory Board; Regional Park volunteer for 50 yearsCassidy Kempf - President
Cassidy Kempf is an ecologist and avid birder who has worked for both the City of San Antonio and City of Houston’s Parks and Recreation Departments. She is passionate about parks, native plants, and ecological restoration.Jeremy Tometczak - Member
Jeremy Tometczak has lived in Bexar County since 2014 and established himself as an avid environmental volunteer, leader, and advisor including Texas Master Naturalist, Native Landscape Certification with NPSOT, and Tree Guide with Bexar Branches. He volunteers with Medina River Riparian Restoration Technical Advisory Group (led by Texas Water Resources Institute), San Antonio River Authority, Government Canyon State Natural Area, Medina River Natural Area, and Kirchoff Prairie. He promotes regenerative agriculture, food forests, riparian buffer zones, and is a big time “Kill Your Lawn” and “Plant Texas Natives” enthusiast.Bottom Row
Priscilla Garrett - Vice President
Texas Master Gardener Program - 2001 Bexar County Class 36 and volunteer in San Antonio and Castroville since 1996Desiree Mendoza - Secretary
Desiree Mendoza is an emerging urban forestry professional with experience in trail maintenance and arboriculture, beginning with Texas Conservation Corps in 2023 and joining Bexar Branches Alliance in 2024. As Program Manager and Tree Crew Lead, she advances BBA’s work to establish trees as critical infrastructure through planting, preservation, and education. Desiree is a BBA Tree Guide, Native Plant Society of Texas Level 4 certified in Native Landscaping, and serves as Secretary of the board for The Friends of Castroville Regional Park. She also supports River Aid San Antonio and the San Antonio Food Council’s Food Access & Policy Coalition, combining conservation with community engagement with an emphasis on environmental justice.Kyle McVay - Member since 2017
Volunteer at Castroville Nip and Tuck since 2010; volunteer for the City of Castroville