Lloyd Noland Parkway
Richard M. Scrushy Parkway, or R. M. Scrushy Parkway, is a 1.37 mile long road within Fairfield. Its northern end is at its intersection with 36th Street and after weaving through central Fairfield it reaches its southern end at its intersection with 46th Place. It is also accessible from I-20/I-59 northeast at Exit 119.
Originally called Ridgeway, this was later renamed Lloyd Noland Parkway in honor of Dr Lloyd Noland, the chief of the health department for Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad Company who was instrumental in the construction of the company's infirmary in Fairfield, which was later named Lloyd Noland Hospital.
The parkway would retain this moniker through 2000 when it was renamed in honor of former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy after HealthSouth purchased Lloyd Nolan and reopened it as HealthSouth Metro West.
The Metro West hospital was one of the causalities of the HealthSouth scandal, and as a result, some residents want to remove the Scrushy name from the parkway. In a September 2006 public hearing, Miles College Parkway was suggested as possible name for the parkway in honor of Fairfield's Miles College. Other suggestions have included restoring either of the street's former names, or using it to honor Fairfield police officer Mary Smith, who was killed in the line of duty in October 2006. The city council's Health, Education and Community Resources Committee is now determining if a name change should be carried out.
Notable locations
- 301: Fairfield City Park
- 701: former site of HealthSouth Metro West, formerly known as Lloyd Noland Hospital, future site of Miles College expansion
References
- Plott, Bill (June 26, 2007) "Mayor wants road renamed for officer." Birmingham News.
- Plott, Bill (September 29, 2006) "Miles College Parkway wins support at renaming hearing". Birmingham News.