Sheryl Sculley's recommendation to award the contract instead to the Chicago-based Entertainment Cruises, the choice also of former Mayor Phil Hardberger. On receiving the contract, Andrade told Taylor and the council: "We not only know but we understand why the River Walk is indeed our crown jewel of our beautiful city. And we understand that the barge operation is the thread that weaves it all together." In 2021 it was temporarily used as a source of water after a winter storm crippled infrastructure across Texas. Impact The River Walk has inspired similar projects in other cities, such as the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Cherry Creek Greenway in Denver, Colorado, the Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the Santa Lucía Riverwalk in Monterrey, Mexico. See also Fiesta Noche del Rio List of restaurant districts and streets in the United States References External links San Antonio River Improvements Projects — Website run by the San Antonio River Authority covering current and future projects along the River Walk The World Famous San Antonio River Walk — business/tourist online guide River Walk — San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau Historic American Landscapes Survey in Texas Pedestrian malls in the United States Restaurant districts and streets in the United States River Walk Transportation in Bexar County, Texas Works Progress Administration in Texas