Red Mountain Park

Note: This article is about the proposed park, for the early park, renamed in 1934, see Lane Park.

The Red Mountain Park is a proposed 1,108-acre nature park on 4.5 miles of the western section of Red Mountain in Jefferson County. The location of the park can serve as a connector to a 64-mile network of greenways under development. The overall scheme of linear parks along streambeds and ridges is similar to a 1924 design for A System of Parks for Birmingham by the Olmsted Brothers.

The property on which the park would be built is owned by U. S. Steel and was the site of the Wenonah and Ishkooda ore mines. On January 28, 2005 the Freshwater Land Trust announced that they were raising funds to purchase the property for $7 million and hopes to raise $30 to 40 million for development of the park. U. S. Steel has pledged $1 million in development funds once the land is purchased, for nearly $9.5 million less than its appraised value. The total $10.5 million gift is the largest contribution ever made by the corporation. The Friends of Red Mountain Park are also gathering support for development.

In late 2004 conceptual planning for the site indicated a potential for as many as 16 soccer/football fields, 5 softball/baseball fields, a 20-acre artificial lake, an open-air exhibit venue, several scenic overlooks, a meadow, 18 miles of bicycling and hiking trails and access to historical mine sites.

In 2005 the Jefferson County Commission committed to contributing $7 million over 6 years to purchase the property and develop the park. After the 2006 election, however, the incoming commission balked at the promised amount. After negotiations with the Red Mountain Park Commission the county agreed on July 3, 2007 to make a single lump-sum contribution of $4.5 million.

Commission

In 2006 the Alabama legislature designated the project as part of the Alabama State Parks system and created the Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Commission with the duty "to own, preserve, restore, maintain and promote the park." The commission did not form in time to execute the purchase by the December 31, 2006 deadline, so it was extended by one month by agreement with U. S. Steel. On January 15, 2007, the 15-member commission only had seven members, two short of the quorum needed to complete the purchase. At the January 23 presentation of the final draft of the park's master plan, the commission pledged to make the purchase, even though fundraising would still be needed to carry it through.

Philadelphia landscape architects Wallace, Roberts & Todd have been contracted, with local associates Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon, to conduct stakeholder meetings and further develop design plans. The 2007 master plans schematics show 18 miles of trails looping around the park and including a ridgetop trail through the center and a rugged "challenge trail". These trails would eventually connect to Vulcan Trail and the Shades Creek Greenway. Other amenities envisioned in the master plan include ball fields, historical exhibits, picnic areas, and potentially lakes or fountains. Vehicle and pedestrial entrances would eventually be opened on all sides of the park, allowing it to serve as a connector between western communities. At the beginning, the primary entrance would be on Venice Road on the southeast corner.

Fund-raising for the realization of Red Mountain Park's master plan is being coordinated as a "parknership" with the campaigns to create the Railroad Reservation Park and expand Ruffner Mountain Park. Together, the three parks would give residents of Birmingham more public green space than in any other American city.

At the January 23 meeting responsibility for the park was symbolically handed over to the commission in the form of a chunk of iron ore given to members by the Freshwater Land Trust. By the end of 2007 the purchase price for the land had been raised and efforts were continuing to raise development funds. In January 2008 U. S. Senator Jeff Sessions presented $1 million in federal funding for the development of the project. The majority of the land was purchased in March. Public tours of the property were given during the summer of 2008, beginning on May 18.

On July 29, 2008 the Birmingham City Council approved the dedication of a critical 71 1/2 acre parcel of city-owned property to the park commission. That August the commission agreed to buy a 100-foot-wide strip of property that would extend the park's greenway 2.5 miles west, connecting to a planned park in Midfield. That fall David Dionne, former director of parks for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, arrived in Birmingham to serve as the park's executive director.

See also

• 3D at Number 11 Mining Camp, a trail cleared by West Goldwire resident Ervin Batain.

References

• Bouma, Katherine (January 28, 2005) "U.S. Steel gives for large park Offers $1 million, land discount for plan." Birmingham News
• Bouma, Katherine (May 14, 2006) "3 New Urban Parks May Make City Greenest." Birmingham News
• Brown, Melissa (March 15, 2006) "Bobby Humphrey, Wendy Jackson, & John Cobbs: Red Mountain Park" Portico
• Jordan, Phillip (May 18, 2006) "A bridge across the Great Divide: The promise of Red Mountain Park." Birmingham Weekly
• Jordan, Phillip (January 11, 2007) "It's not about the money." Birmingham Weekly
• Bouma, Katherine (January 24, 2007) "Park called `a reality' although funds short." Birmingham News
• Wright, Barnett (July 4, 2007) "Park to get part of promised money." Birmingham News
• Bouma, Katherine (Janaury 31, 2008) "Sen. Jeff Sessions to deliver $1 million on Friday for Red Mountain Park." Birmingham News
• Bouma, Katherine (May 14, 2008) "First tours to be held of 1,100 acre Red Mountain Park Sunday." Birmingham News

External links

• Friends of Red Mountain Park website
• Photos of the site on Flickr.com