Red Mountain Park » Park Construction

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

Content Editor — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:54:47 +0000

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.

“From the Ground Up”

Content Editor — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:17:12 +0000

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.

Our First Life Scout Project.

Content Editor — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:41:55 +0000

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.

weekend full of eagles.

Content Editor — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:47:07 +0000

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…

Pesky Privet

Content Editor — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:45:04 +0000

We have begun the process of knocking out some of the invasive plants at Red Mountain Park and finally found just the tool we need!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D4i2i9c5OY

Clearing at No.13

Content Editor — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:15:32 +0000

Take a quick look at some of the work being done to clear the area around the No. 13 portal. Cool stuff.

Great question about the park…

Content Editor — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:34:18 +0000

I answer alot of questions about Red Mountain Park almost every day which is fine with me because I love telling people about the park. In my email today, I received a very good question about the park from an avid hiker named Andrew. Andrew’s question was basically this: Why pave trails instead of keeping the park’s paths more natural?

Andrew’s question inspired my blog today because it brings up some of the goals I have for the park. Hikers who want to enjoy natural paths will find many miles of trails that connect interesting features across the mountain, but the goal is to also include a few other user groups. Families with children, recreational cyclists, people using wheel chairs and other medical mobility devices, moms with strollers, and skaters will find a paved trail system that they can use that will connect sites along the old rail beds and in the common areas.

Alabama, specifically Birmingham, is ranked high among the places with the greatest threats from heart disease, obesity and diabetes. We want to create great places for hikers as well as healthy citizens and for people who are at risk from these afflictions. If we are able to offer a welcoming, well-maintained paved trail system for these groups so they will be able to walk and exercise while feeling safe and cared for then we will serve everyone, not just a few select groups. It’s a big place so I think it’s doable. Thanks for a great question, Andrew.

If you have a question, do give me a call or send me an email. Maybe your question will end up inspiring my next entry…