Jones Valley Trail

The Jones Valley Trail (also called the Jones Valley Greenway, Jones Valley Corridor, 1st Avenue South Trail or the 1st Avenue South Greenway) is a 28.8-mile recreational trail which forms a major spine of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System, planned and developed by the Freshwater Land Trust.

The initial section of the corridor is a 2-mile walking and cycling trail connecting Railroad Park in Birmingham's Parkside District to 41st Street South in Avondale. The trail was opened in sections, with the connection to Avondale completed in 2021. The western end of that segment of the trail is at the corner of 1st Avenue South and 18th Street where it connects to the Railroad Park trails and the 18th Street Connector. From there, the trail passes by the Powell Avenue Steam Plant and Spire Alabama Midtown Business Center.

At 20th Street South the trail enters a former railroad cut which was renovated by the Rotary Club of Birmingham in 2014 as the "Rotary Trail". The entrance to that section is marked by a large sign modeled after the "Magic City sign" which had once welcomed visitors from the Birmingham Terminal Station. The Rotary Trail ends under the 24th Street Viaduct, where it is marked by the "Frank's Table" sculpture, dedicated in November 2019.

The Hugh Kaul Trail picks up from there, marked by a trailhead with a bike tool kiosk at 25th Street South. From there the greenway returns to a dedicated pathway, set off from the street by a row of bollards and trees as it continues past the Pepper Place district to 32nd Street South.

The 9-block extension of the trail, from 32nd Street to 41st Street South in Avondale was approved by the Birmingham City Council in March 2021 and is projected to open in the fall of that year. It would continue along 1st Avenue South to just past the 35th Street Viaduct, then turn a block south, alongside M2, where the Freshwater Land Trust's offices are located, to the unpaved 2nd Avenue South corridor extending to 38th Street South.

The Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club is leading the development of a "Sunrise Plaza" feature on the section of the trail on axis with 36th Street South, which would incorporate benches, shade structures, and a sculpture by Deedee Morrison. The extension would continue as part of the paved road and terminate at 41st Street, alongside Satellite and 41st Street Pub & Aircraft Sales, directly opposite Avondale Brewing Co. and Beloved Community Church.

An additional extension, dubbed the Continental Gin Connector, would add pedestrian access to the Avondale Mills Shopping Center and Continental Gin complex, home of Cahaba Brewing Co., Redmont Distilling Co., and the collections of the Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association.

The Hugh Kaul Foundation donated funds to complete the 1.5 mile section between Rotary Trail and Continental Gin. The section was named for him when it was completed in 2022.

Eventually the Jones Valley Trail will become part of a continuous loop encircling all of the city's Southside by connecting to Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve and Red Mountain Park.

References

• Beahm, Anna (February 5, 2020) "Extension will connect Rotary Trail to 41st Street." The Birmingham News
• Byington, Pat (March 9, 2021) "Birmingham gives final approval for Jones Valley Trail Extension." Bham Now
• Croxson, Madison (September 7, 2021) "Sunrise Rotary launches namesake project, The Sunrise Plaza—learn how to support." Bham Now
• "Anticipated Downtown Trail Connection from Rotary Trail to Continental Gin to be named Hugh Kaul Trail." (January 26, 2022) Freshwater Land Trust

External links

• Interactive Map of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System at the Freshwater Land Trust website