PARKING FOR VIEWING BATS Parking IS a problem in the area. Across Memorial along Waugh St - Spotts Park has many spaces available. It is a short walk back to the bridge. There are side streets adjacent to the American General building at Allen Parkway. The commercial strip center at Waugh & Allen Parkway caters to patrons of the Stages Reportory Theatre and has added valet parking charging motorists a fee to park on their lot. Unfortunately this used to be our primary parking area. There are pull offs along the dandelion fountain where one can look occasionally to observe their vehicle from the viewing platform. BE CAREFULL ALONG THE SIDEWALK - repairs are not expected until OCT 2008 Metro services the area with a stop at Waugh & Allen Parkway by the large green electrical box on the west side of Waugh Dr. Check with METRO for the bus # and schedule.

BEST VIEWING LOCATIONS: 1) Standing on the east side of the Waugh Street bridge looking toward downtown. WATCH OUT FOR TRAFFIC ON BRIDGE & BIKERS ON WALKWAY 2) Standing on the new viewing platform. 3) Standing by the 'dandelion" fountain along Allen Parkway looking towards the bayou. Many times they fly overhead by the fountain. 4) On the east side grassy area between the bayou & Memorial Drive. Guidelines for safe & enjoyable bat viewing! Viewing the bat emergence at the Waugh street bridge can be one of the many exciting experiences in nature. The following guidelines are intended to help people and volunteers to observe the bats without causing harm to the bats or themselves. Please be bat-friendly! Please give yourself extra time to arrive before sunset. Generally we park across Allen Parkway at the strip center OF LATE, A VALET PARKING "DIS-SERVICE" IS SET UP AT THE STRIP CENTER. The bat emergences are not always predictable. For optimal viewing, stand on the sidewalk on top of the bridge (east side) to watch the emergence - or - watch from the viewing platform by the bridge (as of April 2008 - foliage is still blocking views of the flight of bats along the bayou channel from the new viewing platform). Be very careful and watch for vehicles (in roadway) & bicycle traffic (on sidewalk) while standing on the bridge and please supervise your kids! Please do not stand underneath the bridge during the bat emergence. If observing the bats from the near underside of the bridge, remain several feet away from the bridge out to the side to give the bats plenty of flying room. We do not want to alter or disturb their nightly routine. YOU would not want to be in their way! Bats prefer the dark, especially when first emerging from the bridge crevices. Do not use white-light flashlights or camera flashes to see them. These actions disturb the bats routine and could eventually alter their behavior patterns. If you need to use a light, cover the lens with red cellophane or a red plastic material. The red wavelengths don't seem to bother them as much. DO NOT TOUCH a grounded bat for any reason. They may bite in self defense! Loud voices can alter the bats behavior. Please be considerate of the bats while visiting the bridge. Please supervise children and pets. Please do not throw objects at flying or roosting bats. This area is a conservation site where bats are protected by Texas state laws.