The City of San Antonio, Texas last week announced the opening of the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge—the largest wildlife crossing in the U.S.
Reclaiming natural habitat above Wurzbach Parkway, the Land Bridge connects the previously divided halves of the 330-acre Phil Hardberger Park in north central San Antonio. The project was funded through private donations and the voter-approved City of San Antonio 2017-2022 Bond Program.
“For many years, the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge was only a dream. Thanks to overwhelming community support of the 2017 Bond, the generosity of donors from across the city and the hard work and dedication of so many, the vision is now a reality,” former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said in a statement. “I am honored to invite San Antonians to come experience the Land Bridge and hope it will offer them an escape from the stresses of this year—a place where they may spend time with family and friends and connect with the natural world.”
Hardberger Park Land Bridge is Largest in U.S.
The bridge is uniquely designed for safe passage by people and animals and is the largest wildlife crossing constructed to date in the U.S. According to National Geographic, in addition to reconnecting fractured habitats, wildlife crossings around the world have been shown to significantly reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes. In the years ahead, the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge will serve as a living classroom for research and engaging community programming.
“We join the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy in celebrating the opening of the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge. The Land Bridge connects people with nature in the heart of San Antonio. I look forward to watching the landscape grow and mature with native trees and plants and observing wildlife through viewing blinds designed by local artists. The bridge is an amazing achievement,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement.
----------
SOURCE: City of San Antonio
