Approximately 3.1 miles of natural surface trail opened within New Braunfels’ Northwest Park, which is located along FM 1102 south of Conrads Lane, on Oct. 26.

What you need to know: The new trail system is open daily from 6 a.m.-10 p.m., with the primary trailhead at 965 Conrads Lane, according to a city news release.

The city installed trail markers on trees and wayfinding signage throughout the park to improve navigation. The primary trailhead also includes a kiosk called “Completing the Corridor,” which features a map highlighting the growing connectivity of parks, trails and neighborhoods in the area. This includes the future Sunflower Ridge Park and planned links to the existing Alligator Creek West Loop, the release states. 

One more thing: Once complete, the connected trail system will boast about 5 miles of paved and unpaved trails, according to the release. 

Interested in giving back to the New Braunfels community? Check out these local nonprofits to volunteer with.

This list is not comprehensive.

Feed the hungry

New Braunfels Food Bank

Serving about 8,000 individuals each month, this food pantry provides groceries and produce to those in need while conducting community outreach, education and more.

• Sample volunteer activities: food packing, sorting, garden work, community pantry

• Donations accepted: monetary, canned food, dried goods, tuna, cereal, peanut butter

• 1620 S. Seguin Ave., New Braunfels

Human services

New Braunfels Christian Ministries - Volunteers in Medicine

This organization provides quality medical, dental and mental healthcare at no charge to local uninsured adults.

• Sample volunteer activities: Use your medical or dental training to provide quality care onsite, welcome patients into your private practice, work at the front desk

• Donations accepted: monetary and select in-kind donations; call 830-632-5131 to ask about a specific donation

• 1239 W. San Antonio St., New Braunfels

The San Marcos City Council approved a zoning change that will accommodate more accessible parking for patients at a new Veterans Affairs, or VA, hospital development on Oct. 20.

The gist: Developers submitted a request to rezone approximately 4.6 acres of land located near the intersection of Wonder World Drive and State Highway 123 from Commercial, or CM, to Business Park, or BP.

While CM zoning would allow the hospital’s development, it includes parking location restrictions. The BP distinction does not carry those restrictions, according to agenda documents.

More flexible parking options would make it easier for older patients or those with serious medical conditions to access the clinic, said Shannon Mattingly, director of land use and entitlements with Drenner Group.

The details: The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the requested zoning change for approval with a unanimous 9-0 vote on Sept. 22. The City Council approved the change with a unanimous 7-0 vote, voicing its support for the project.

On Oct. 19, the principals of San Marcos High School and Mendez Elementary School presented targeted improvement plans to the San Marcos CISD Board of Trustees.

The plans are aimed at increasing graduation rates at the high school and raising the elementary school’s rating from the Texas Education Agency, or TEA.

The overview: In 2022, San Marcos High School had a graduation rate of 39.2%, said Principal Eileen Grose. The rate rose to 83.8% in 2023. The campus is working toward a rate of 90.5% to 95% by spring 2027.

Campus teams have dedicated time weekly to review student data, plan and align instruction across classrooms and grade levels through Professional Learning Communities.

Another thing: Mendez Elementary School received a 63, or D, rating from the TEA in the 2026 A-F Accountability Scores. The rating marks a 26-point, two-letter-grade decrease from the school’s overall score of an 89 in 2025, according to the TEA.

The school is working to reach an overall C or higher rating by 2027.