The park eventually fell into neglect during the severe drought in the 1950s, though the main spring never dried up. Fear that breeding mosquitoes in the small ponds could possibly spread polio led to the demolition of the stepping stone dams along the waterway. City officials lost interest in maintaining the area, and it became overgrown with weeds and weed trees, creating an environment much more welcoming to snakes and vermin than to park users. With the flow of the waters limited and the loss of the beautiful falls and pools, the area would be almost forgotten in the decades following. Most of the land had remained privately owned in large part, and as land values rose, some owners reasserted their claims and put up buildings or parking lots in what had been parkland. As the final blow, the United States Army Corps of Engineers channelized much of the upstream course, bulldozing oaks to straighten it and speed the flow of runoff, which dumped more floodwater on the lower section. However, during the 1980s, ideas to revitalize the area began to flourish. The Women's Federated Clubs and the Seguin Garden Club took the first steps and began planting roses and climbing roses along the walls marking the stagecoach route in the area along Donegan and Travis Streets, which became known as the Memorial Rose Garden. The community holds a romantic Moonlight and Roses Festival at the site annually, in late spring. Then in 1995, the city formed a master plan for renovation. By 2002, voters had approved the initiation of the project. However, delays in funding postponed major renovations until 2006, when funds from the Destination Seguin bond package were approved by voters, and used in part to buy key land parcels as part of the park. The project was brought to the attention of State and Federal officials for help with funding. The Army Corps of Engineers formed the basic plan of design for the park, attempting to rectify the earlier damage, since the Corps' philosophy of flood control had completely reversed to emphasize natural plantings and wetlands to absorb runoff, and meandering stream beds to slow rushing waters. On May 14, 2011, the central section of the park was completed and the city celebrated the rebirth of Walnut Springs Park. Commemorative plaques mounted to the entrances on the park's pedestrian bridge were placed to honor the contributions of the people who made this project possible. Current plans are to extend the park walk, deemed the Walnut Branch Linear Park Trail, much further north to Highway 78, and a few blocks south to Convent Street, and perhaps eventually a few more blocks to link with Max Starcke Park.