Beth Pratt, of the National Wildlife Federation, poses with Park Founder Phil Hardberger and a cut out of P-22, the famous mountain lion that heped raise awareness about the need for more wildife crossings.
On September 19, 2023, the "Wildlife Crossings Road Trip" team stopped at Phil Hardberger Park to see the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge and to meet Phil Hardberger, Park Founder and former Mayor of San Antonio.
The road trip, which began at the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Los Angeles, includes stops at nine animal crossings across the country to bring awareness to the need for such crossings.
It is a collaborative effort between the National Wildlife Federation's #SaveLACougars Campaign, Big Cat Voices, ARC Solutions, and The Wildlife Crossing Fund. The team includes Beth Pratt, Regional Executive Director, California of the National Wildlife Federation; Steve Winter, a wildlife photojournalist with over two decades of experience at National Geographic Magazine; Sharon Guynup, an award-winning journalist, photographer, producer, and presenter; and Renee Callahan and Marta Brocki of ARC Solutions (Animal Road Crossing), a multidisciplinary not-for-profit partnership dedicated to ensuring the construction of wildlife crossings where needed.
After the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge tour, Pratt shared her enthusiasm on Facebook, stating, "Mind. Officially. Blown." She referred to the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge as the "sister wildlife crossing" to the Wallis Annenberg crossing.
"We have been monitoring your project since its inception, even before ground was broken because it is a remarkable example of an urban wildlife crossing," Pratt said in one of her social media videos. "I'm genuinely awestruck. Our mission extends beyond simply advocating for more crossings like this across the nation; we are also here to gain knowledge. We employed a similar approach with the Wallis Annenberg crossing, such as installing native landscaping on top."
“The Land Bridge has been part of the plans of the park since the get-go,” said Phil Hardberger, Park Founder and former Mayor of San Antonio. ”When the parkland came open for sale, Wurzbach Parkway was already under construction to run through it.”
The Land Bridge was designed to serve both people and wildlife from the beginning. About two-thirds of the width of the Land Bridge is reserved for the animals.
“This is a major urban center, and you preserved nature in the middle of the city,” Pratt said in an interview with Phil Hardberger.
“And it's working,” replied Hardberger. “All the mammal species known in the park have been photographed on the Land Bridge. Now, people are coming from all over the place just to see it.”
Connecting Habitats and Building Safe Wildlife Crossings
The visit by the "Wildlife Crossings Road Trip" team to the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge underscores the vital importance of connecting habitats and constructing safe wildlife crossings. Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy recognizes that such initiatives are essential to preserving our natural ecosystems, protecting wildlife, and fostering harmony between urban environments and nature.
San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the United States, with a population of more than two million. Phil Hardberger Park is central to the population core. The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge exemplifies the positive impact that well-designed wildlife crossings can have on our environment and communities.
Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy supports initiatives that promote biodiversity, sustainability, and conservation of our natural world. The visit from the "Wildlife Crossings Road Trip" team serves as a testament to the Conservancy's dedication to supporting these ideals. After their visit, the Conservancy is thankful to become more connected to other U.S. wildlife crossings through our united yet individual efforts to reconnect wildlife habitats through thoughtful design.
“People and animals are both God’s creatures,” said Hardberger. “By fostering connections between habitats and prioritizing the safety of wildlife to prevent collisions between animals and cars, we not only enrich our urban landscapes but our own lives.”