Archive for the ‘Park Construction’ Category

Volunteer Vacation Wrap-Up: final numbers on what was accomplished!

May 9th, 2011

1. Cleared 3,340 feet on a road in the park that had been abandoned for 48 years and turned it into part of the new trail we call the Ishkooda Mines Trail that goes to the Birmingham city overlook. 2. Laid out and built 475 feet of new single track trail, which is also part of the new Ishkooda Mines Trail to the city overlook. 3. Cleared vegetation from two historic foundations that are on the park property; one associated with the compressor house that was part of the Ishkooda plant facilities for the #13 and #14 iron ore mines and the other being the foundation of the bath house for the #14 mine.

Also, during the week of work, over 3,000 linear feet of invasive privet was cleared.

A total of 3,815 feet of new trail was built.

Posted in Dave's Blog, Park Construction, Park Events |

“From the Ground Up”

December 3rd, 2010

Hope you caught Christina Crowe’s article in Black & White this week. If not, here is a glimpse of what she had to say about Red Mountain Park:

Deep within the privet and kudzu that snake through, curl around, and cover everything in their path, relics rest in the land atop Red Mountain. This is the site of longtime mining operations that made up Birmingham’s founding industry. Thousands of men toiled underground here, while their families went to school, worked, and lived aboveground in mining towns established by their employers. For decades this former industrial site sat untouched, left to the wildlife that overtook it and obscured much of the physical legacy of the work that took place here. Now as early as 2012, the city may gain its second new park in as many years with the opening of Red Mountain Park, which is being designed with the goal of bringing that history to light.

Thank you, Christina! Have a great weekend, everyone.

Posted in Dave's Blog, General, News & Press, News Stories, Park Construction |

Our First Life Scout Project.

July 19th, 2010

On Friday(July 16th), Scout Aaron Stansell came out to Red Mountain Park to complete his scouting Life Project. He and three friends worked on the new folds trail extension, which will run from the Smythe trail over to the Ridge Road Jeep trail. They performed their work well, benching 150 feet of trail to near the top of the first hill on the trail. Enjoy the photos below, both taken by Jeff Newman, and have a wonderful week.

Back Row L-R: William White, Phil Hontzas. Front Row L-R: Reed Whetstone, Aaron Stansell.

Posted in Dave's Blog, Park Construction |

weekend full of eagles.

June 14th, 2010

My Saturday was spent helping in 3 Eagle Scout Projects on the park. I was so impressed with the work put forth by each of these soon-to-be eagles. Check out their impressive work below: a bridge demolition at the No. 13 site, a bridge being built on the Redding trail, and a park video project…