Red Mountain Park Funding on Jefferson County Commission Agenda
Some of you may have seen a brief article in yesterday's Birmingham News citing County Commission President Larry Langford's plan to enter into an agreement with the Black Warrior - Cahaba River Land Trust to help it secure the Park lands. Langford is proposing a $2 million initial investment from the county's general fund to be followed by $1 million grants each year for the next five years.
This would obviously be a tremendous step forward for us, and would probably satisfy US Steel's initial purchase requirements, but it is not yet assured. The Commission will discuss the matter in more detail at today's pre-commission meeting and if there is enough support, it will be formally added to the agenda for a Tuesday vote. Commission meetings (held at the County Courthouse downtown) are open to the public, so the Park Steering Committee is trying to rally troops for Tuesday's session. If you have any interest in attending, your support for the Park would be greatly appreciated. If the Park issue does make the Tuesday meeting agenda, I will send out a short news flash with more details. Let's hope the Park funding measure makes the ballot and that the Commission hears our voices!
Landscape Design Firm Chosen
A very significant milestone in the Park's proposed development has been reached. Last week, Wallace, Roberts & Todd, a Landscape Design firm based in Philadelphia, PA, was chosen to produce a Master Plan for Red Mountain Park. WRT beat out a large number of firms responding to the Park Steering Committee's proposal request, and in the final selection round, was chosen over 3 other firms both local and from out-of-state.
WRT has a great deal of experience creating city and park area master plans and their understanding of many thrusts of this project (providing an engaging recreational space, uniting different areas of the community, inviting public participation, and developing a visible design to excite future fundraising) proved that they had done their research and were eager to take on the job. We look forward to their involvement and will be tapping the Friends group to participate in all public forums they arrange.
More to Come...
Look for more updates on the site and in future mailings detailing developments with the proposed Commission funding and the first steps toward a Park master plan. This is an exciting time as we begin to move from the realm of the possible to the real and tangible.
Thanks for subscribing,
John Cobbs
Friends of Red Mountain Park