Freshwater Land Trust

On January 28, 2005, the Freshwater Land Trust and U.S. Steel announced one of the largest urban conservation efforts in Alabama's history. The Land Trust negotiated a two-year option from U.S. Steel to purchase the 1,108-acre Red Mountain Park in Birmingham.

This land, valued at $16.5 million, was optioned for two years at the discounted price of $7 million. Upon completion of the land purchase, U.S. Steel has pledged an additional $1 million in cash for the development of park amenities that could include 18 miles of biking and hiking trails, 16 soccer fields, 5 softball fields, picnic areas, and a 20-acre lake. The property provides the opportunity to connect a 64-mile network of greenways that would allow a person to bicycle from Bessemer to Mountain Brook without ever encountering vehicular traffic. If developed, it will be one of our nation's largest urban parks.

This project reflects the largest philanthropic gift in U.S. Steel's 100-year history. It is anticipated the park could easily attract a million visitors a year to our community. Red Mountain Park is not eligible for funding from the Jefferson County Greenways Program because it is not adjacent to a river or stream; thus, this project represents the Land Trust's most ambitious fundraising effort to date.

To help us make Red Mountain Park a reality, in 2005 the Red Mountain Park Steering Committee was created. The Committee is made up of community leaders including mayors and representatives of towns surrounding Birmingham as well as representatives from the Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Department of Labor, the Vulcan Park Foundation, area businesses, the Auburn Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, and the Birmingham Historical Society.

Winter 2006
View the preliminary drafts of the Red Mountain Park Master Plan. These documents, produced by landscape architects Wallace, Roberts and Todd (WRT), are large format maps with trail and legend callouts:

Note: check the file sizes before downloading if you have a slow connection

Park Funding

The Hugh Kaul Foundation was our first major funder. Last summer, the Foundation gave the Land Trust $100,000 to establish the Red Mountain Park Fund now held at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. This fund was established to demonstrate critical private sector support for the project, provide match for federal funding, challenge others to contribute, and allow the Steering Committee to develop a comprehensive master plan for the park. Since the Fund's establishment (visit the website), over $8,000 in donations—mostly in increments of $25 and $50- have been made by individuals excited about the possibility of Red Mountain Park.

In November of 2005, Red Mountain Park received a huge boost. The Jefferson County Commission, led by Commissioners Larry Langford and Gary White, made a monumental pledge of $7 million over the next six years for Red Mountain Park! Two million of that amount will help purchase the property, and the remaining $5 million will be put towards park development.

Members of the Red Mountain Park Steering Committee met with each of our federal legislators in Washington. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and Congressmen Spencer Bachus and Artur Davis are supporters of the project.

Park Master Plan

In September of 2005, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham awarded $75,000 from its grantmaking funds to the Land Trust for the development of the Red Mountain Park Master Plan. This generous gift allowed the Steering Committee to hire a nationally known landscape architect, Wallace Roberts and Todd from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm will make their first of four visits to Birmingham the week of June 12th, 2006. Public meetings will be incorporated into the planning process to receive public feedback on proposed Park amenities. The Plan is expected to be finalized this fall.

From a desire to see Red Mountain Park become a reality, John Cobbs, a local triathlete and web designer, created the Friends of Red Mountain Park. This group has quickly grown to over 500 members through word-of-mouth advertisement only. He created a terrific website (www.redmountainpark.org) to keep the public informed about Red Mountain Park's progress and the public meetings. John's group serves as an extension of the Red Mountain Park effort, and he has worked closely with the Freshwater Land Trust in media and press appearances.

Future Park Ownership and Management

As for future Park management and operations, our state legislators have been very involved. On April 17, 2006, the last day of the legislative session, Representatives Paul DeMarco and Merika Coleman and Senators Rodger Smitherman and Jabo Waggoner helped us pass a state bill that created the 15-member Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area Commission. This Commission will own, manage, and operate the Park. Although we have not asked the State to fund the Park's operations, state ownership will give the park sovereign immunity. Governor Bob Riley signed the bill into law on April 21, 2006.

Despite all the progess made towards making Red Mountain Park a reality, we're not finished. We have until December 2006 to raise the entire $7 million to purchase the park property.

You can help by: