Phil Hardberger How do you know someone is famous in SA? A park is renamed in their honor. That’s what happened for Phil Hardberger. During his time as mayor of the Alamo City from 2005 to 2009 (a feat he accomplished without having experience in city council — and by defeating Julian Castro, his ultimate successor), Hardberger helped acquire Voelcker Park and start Haven for Hope to serve the city’s homeless population. After he left off, Voelcker was renamed after Hardberger. Photo by Sanford Nowlin Credit: Sanford Nowlin

Former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, 86, suffered a mild heart attack Monday, less than a week after the inauguration of a land bridge at the city park bearing his name, according to media reports.

A spokeswoman from the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy told the Express-News on Tuesday that Hardberger was in “good condition” at a local hospital and is expected to be released soon. 

There is no timeline for Hardberger to return to work, the spokeswoman told the daily.

Hardberger, who served as San Antonio mayor from 2005 to 2009, is recognized for his focus on developing parks and greenways for the city. Council named the 330-acre Phil Hardberger Park, which opened shortly after he left office, in his honor.

The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge, which opened Friday, connects the eastern and western portions of Hardberger Park across Wurzbach Parkway. The bridge is considered the largest operational wildlife crossing of its type in the U.S.

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This article appears in Dec 2-15, 2020.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...