Methodist Healthcare Ministries Breaks Ground on Ministry Park in San Antonio, Bringing Affordable Medical Lodging and New Public Green Space

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) officially broke ground on Ministry Park on October 30, 2026, marking the beginning of a 16-acre development that will bring more than 250 hotel rooms, financial assistance for qualifying families, and approximately 15,000 square feet of accessible public green space to one of San Antonio's major healthcare districts.

Located near Wurzbach Road, Floyd Curl Drive, and Medical Drive, the project is intended to address a challenge familiar to many South Texas families: the cost of staying close to a loved one receiving medical treatment, particularly when that care requires repeated appointments or extended hospital stays.

Affordable Medical Lodging at the Heart of Ministry Park

The first phase of Ministry Park will include a dual-branded Home2 Suites and Hilton Garden Inn, bringing more than 250 guest rooms to the South Texas Medical Center.

Unlike a traditional hotel development, Ministry Park will reserve a dedicated number of rooms at significantly reduced rates for economically disadvantaged patients and their families. Qualifying families experiencing financial hardship will also have access to no-cost accommodations.

The initiative is designed to help families remain close to medical providers without facing the full expense of an extended hotel stay. For patients undergoing specialized treatments and relatives supporting them, that proximity can make an important difference in managing appointments, transportation, and time together.

Specific eligibility requirements, discounted room rates, and hotel opening dates have not yet been announced.

The project will complement existing medical hospitality programs, including Ronald McDonald House Charities, which supports families with children receiving medical care; Fisher House, which provides lodging for eligible military and veteran families near medical facilities; and the American Cancer Society Methodist Healthcare Ministries Hope Lodge, which offers lodging support to eligible cancer patients and caregivers.

Rather than replacing these established programs, Ministry Park is intended to expand the range of accommodations available to people seeking treatment in San Antonio.

"For years, our board and community partners have shared a vision of transforming this property into a place dedicated to healing, hospitality, and hope," said Jaime Wesolowski, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. "Today, that vision begins to take shape. Ministry Park represents an investment not only in buildings and infrastructure, but in the people and families who come to San Antonio seeking care, healing, and a place to belong."

New Public Park and Walkable Spaces Planned for South Texas Medical Center

Ministry Park will also introduce outdoor amenities designed to make the Medical Center more welcoming and accessible beyond its hospitals, medical offices, and parking facilities.

Landscape architecture and design firm TBG Partners is leading the design of approximately 15,000 square feet of accessible green space, including a central lawn, shaded arrival plaza, nature exploration areas, rain garden, water feature, and boardwalk.

Planned improvements along Wurzbach Road include additional shade trees, pedestrian lighting, benches, and specialty paving intended to improve the experience of walking through the area.

For families spending long hours at nearby medical facilities, these spaces could provide opportunities to sit outdoors, take a short walk, or spend time together between appointments. Healthcare professionals, neighborhood residents, and other Medical Center visitors would also have access to the public gathering areas.

The landscaping and pedestrian improvements reflect a broader approach to healthcare development that considers not only medical services, but also the everyday environment surrounding them.

"The most successful medical centers today are more than collections of hospitals and clinics. They are communities designed to support patients, families, healthcare professionals and innovation," said Richard Perez, president of the San Antonio Medical Foundation. "Ministry Park strengthens the South Texas Medical Center's ability to serve our region while ensuring future growth is guided by purpose, partnership and community impact."

The San Antonio Medical Foundation has played a longstanding role in the development and stewardship of the South Texas Medical Center, helping support the district's growth as a regional destination for healthcare, research, and medical education.

Who Is Behind Ministry Park? Methodist Healthcare Ministries and MHM RealCo

Ministry Park is being developed through MHM RealCo, a faith-based real estate company established by Methodist Healthcare Ministries to oversee the planning, development, and long-term stewardship of the property.

Led by president and CEO Christian E. Oviatt, MHM RealCo was created to pursue real estate projects that support the organization's mission and provide lasting community benefits.

"This is more than a real estate project. It's a long-term investment in community health," Oviatt said. "We are intentionally creating a place where patients, families, healthcare professionals, and the broader community can find connection, support, and opportunities to thrive."

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has a long history of supporting healthcare access for uninsured and economically disadvantaged residents across South Texas.

The nonprofit serves a 74-county region, providing low-cost clinical care, investing in community organizations, and supporting initiatives that address factors affecting health, including food security, economic opportunity, broadband access, supportive relationships, and safe neighborhoods.

As a co-owner of Methodist Healthcare, MHM uses earnings from that ownership to support its charitable mission, Serving Humanity to Honor God.

Ministry Park represents another way the organization is approaching healthcare access, recognizing that medical treatment is only one part of a family's experience. Transportation, housing, financial stability, and the ability to remain near loved ones can also influence whether people are able to obtain needed care.

"Ministry Park was never intended to be just a development project. It was envisioned as a strategic investment in people, access to care, and the future of our community," said Lavonne Garrison, chair of the MHM RealCo Board of Directors. "By helping patients and families stay closer to the care they need, we are creating a place where health, healing, and hope can thrive together."

What's Next for Ministry Park in San Antonio?

The October 30 groundbreaking marks the beginning of the development's first phase, which includes the hotel accommodations, public park, and pedestrian improvements.

The approximately 16-acre property is zoned for mixed use, allowing future phases to potentially accommodate additional healthcare-related and commercial development. However, specific plans for those later phases have not been announced.

According to Methodist Healthcare Ministries, future development decisions will incorporate community engagement and lessons from medical center projects across the country.

For San Antonio residents, the project represents another investment in the South Texas Medical Center's continued growth. For families traveling from smaller communities throughout South Texas, its most meaningful contribution may be much simpler: a more affordable place to stay while someone they love receives care.

Additional information about Methodist Healthcare Ministries and its community health initiatives is available at mhm.org.

Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for updates on Ministry Park's construction progress, hotel opening plans, and other developments shaping healthcare access throughout San Antonio and South Texas.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.