Years in the making and at a cost of $23 million, the largest land bridge in the U.S. designed for people and animals opens Friday at Hardberger Park.

Phil Hardberger, for whom the park is named, is the guest in this week’s edition of San Antonio’s Voice. The former mayor of San Antonio sits down with Randy Beamer to talk about one of his crowning achievements and why he hopes it spurs similar projects city-wide.

Hardberger explains why it was important to include animals in the bridge design and how that research came from both Canada and Europe. He also reflects on his time as mayor and the astonishing number of debates he took part in against Julián Castro during that election period.

Hardberger served as mayor of San Antonio from 2005 to 2009 and spearheaded the acquisition of land that would eventually become Phil Hardberger Park. He is a retired Air Force veteran and judge, though still active around San Antonio.

Contact Randy Beamer