A new San Antonio bridge in the works will catch your attention both for its design and its cost. The price tag is $25 million to connect two halves of a local park.
Nestled in the greenery of one half of the park, Luke Berry and his 3-year-old daughter found their rhythm. But the greenery stretches further than some know. It’s a hidden risk that comes with the park being split in two.
“You've set up a dangerous situation where you’ve got a thousand visitors on land and then you’ve got 30,000 cars,” former mayor Phil Hardberger said.
Here’s the problem: Wurzbach Parkway divides the park in two, making it dangerous for people, animals, and for drivers.
When former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger looks at the busy highway, he sees opportunity.
The $25 million land bridge, Hardberger says, would be the first of its kind in the country.
“I honestly think the people of San Antonio deserve to have things that are the best in the world,” Hardberger said.
The bridge would look like an extension of the park, covered in vegetation as patrons would walk 25 feet above the six-lane highway. It’s size: half a football field wide with the sides curving upward so cars would be out of sight to protect people and the types of animals that have been killed trying to get to Salado Creek.
“It's a good idea. I believe it will solve many of the problems in this area,” said Robert Rinn, assistant parks and recreation manager for the City of San Antonio.
But the price tag always raises eyebrows.
“I have residents who don’t have sidewalks. I have to make them our priority,” said Briand Dillard, president of the Dignowity Neighborhood Association.
The goal for bridge advocates is to raise $10 million privately, hoping the project makes it onto next May's bond asking voters for the other $15 million.
Dillard is also eyeing tax dollars to improve parks and supports the idea, but is wary of the details.
“I think the land bridge would be a great attraction. But it’s pricey,” Dillard said.
“There are none other in the United States,” Hardberger counters.
But there is a land bridge in Florida that cost $3.4 million to build in 2000.
Bridge supporters noted that construction costs have gone up and that plans for San Antonio are bigger, grander and offer more costly, still making it one of a kind. Ultimately, it would be more on scale with a proposed $50 million proposed bridge in Southern California.
“I always want to think about where [my kids] will be able to go play,” Berry said. “Where can they go run and bring their children too, for the future.”
It has yet to be determined whether the city will get on board.