Avondale Park

This article is about the Birmingham city park. For the radio program, see Avondale Park (radio program).

Postcard showing the wading pool at Avondale Park c. 1911

Avondale Park is a 40-acre wooded park on the slopes of Red Mountain. It overlooks, and is named for, the City of Avondale, which was annexed into Birmingham in 1910.

Originally the park area was an informal resting spot among natural springs along the Georgia Road. The "Big Springs" appeared on maps of the area before the Civil War. The property was part of a large grant of land given to two-time Jefferson County Sheriff Abner Killough in 1858 and was the site of a minor skirmish that left his wife wounded. He sold the property to Peyton King, who built a house next to the spring. King, in turn, sold his holdings to the Avondale Land Company in 1887.

Whether by agreement with King at the time it was purchased, sentiment for preserving open green spaces, or the mere fact that the steep hillside and spring-fed basin would be less than ideal for building, the expansive 40 acre park gave Avondale a true recreation spot. Since 1885 a mule-powered streetcar had been bringing people from Birmingham to the springs to bathe and picnic. The streetcar line was upgraded to electrical power and the resort became among the most popular day trip destinations in the region. Upon Avondale's annexation into Birmingham in 1910, it became the city's largest park.

As it was first developed, rock retaining walls were constructed to enclose wading pools fed by the springs, which were encircled by an iron fence and covered by a wooden shelter. Paved walks wound between the pools and benches and picnic tables were provided, later supplemented by a covered gazebo. Avondale Cave, accessed from above the spring, attracted adventurers into its depths. Enterprising quarrymen also searched the caves to remove slabs of marble, processed at the nearby Avondale Marble Factory. The spring outlet and cave entrances were sealed off in the 1930s.

Many landscape improvements, including a nationally-renowned rose garden, were pursued by Mayor George Ward. Over time athletic fields and gravel walkways were added. In 1911 cages were erected for a small menagerie of animals that would later become the Birmingham Zoo. The star attraction was "Miss Fancy", an erstwhile circus elephant purchased by the city.

An Easter egg hunt at Avondale Park. Photograph by Charles Preston courtesy BPL Archives

An amphitheater was constructed for the spectacular pageant in celebration of Birmingham's 50th Anniversary in 1921. That same year the Birmingham City Commission sponsored the construction and operation of a Model Poultry Farm with room for 350 birds.

In 1931, a secluded pavilion called "The Villa" was constructed on the hill at the rear of the park. In 1936 the Birmingham Civic Symphonic Orchestra began playing Sunday afternoon free concerts at the park as a public service. That tradition was reborn in 1969 as local bands began playing free Sunday afternoon shows at the amphitheater. The park became known as a hangout for young people, especially those leaning toward counter-cultural ideals and expressions. Occasionally promoters brought touring bands to the park, including a landmark sellout show by the Allman Brothers in 1969. The concerts continued through the mid 1970s.

In the late 1970s, Avondale Park was considered as the site of a handicapped-accessible playground to be jointly developed by the Parks & Recreation Board and UAB. In the end another site was chosen.

Recent developments

The restored Avondale Villa on the south edge of the park

A Friends of Avondale Park group was formed in 1989 which succeeded in preparing a master plan for renovations to the park and restored the Villa in 2006.

In 2008 the "Compound Folk Festival" moved from Hoover to Avondale Park for its third year and changed its name to the Birmingham Folk Festival.

In July 2009 Main Street Birmingham and the Avondale Business Association announced $3 million in city funding to advance the Friends' master plan, including renovations to the amphitheater, playground, athletic fields and restroom facilities.

Renovations to the park began February 28, 2011, with KPS Group as the project's architect and Stone Building Co. as the contractor. The park officially reopened November 19, 2011. The park, with the exception of Avondale Villa, was closed during that time. The $2.88 million plan, funded by City of Birmingham bond money, includes 3 new baseball fields, renovations to the amphitheater, its dressing room, the existing picnic pavilion and the existing pond, creation of a spring-fed grotto and creek using an existing spring, a new concession and restroom building, new playgrounds, making all walkways up to ADA standards, building a new entryway at 41st Street, expanding the parking area, and building an additional picnic pavilion.

References

• Brown, J. Ellis (August 1921) "A City Teaches Chicken Raising". New York, New York: Buttenheim Publishing. The American City. Vol. 25. p. 125
• Harrelson, Keith (December 1970) "Freaks Live in Birmingham: They Surely Do!" Birmingham magazine. Vol. 10, No. 12, pp. 36-8
• "Avondale Villa to open soon." (February 8, 2006) Birmingham News
• Haden, Courtney (July 31, 2008) "Friendly folk: Local music lovers get a BFF." Birmingham Weekly
• Thornton, William (July 21, 2009) "Avondale businesses to announce revitalization plan that will start with a $3 million renovation of Avondale Park." Birmingham News
• Ruisi, Anne (February 23, 2011) "Avondale Park renovation work set to begin." Birmingham News
• Ruisi, Anne (November 16, 2011) "Avondale Park in Birmingham to officially reopen Saturday" Birmingham News

External links

Locate with
Google Maps

• Friends of Avondale Park on Facebook.com