In This Issue

Alabama House Bill 707 Moves Out of Committee

Last week, Alabama House Bill 707 moved out of the Government Finance and Appropriations Committee and is now up for consideration by the full House. The bill seeks to create the Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area Commission, a 13-member board appointed by various entities that would own and manage the Red Mountain Park property. Creating this state commission would give Red Mountain Park the regional significance it deserves and access to funding sources available only to state agencies. If you followed the back and forth debate that initially dogged the Railroad Reservation Park proposal, you know any effort to regionalize support and funding is a good thing.

From what I recall from Schoolhouse Rock's "I'm Just a Bill", just getting out of committee is a wonderful start, but there's a long road ahead to get this legislation voted into the books. You can do your part by contacting your state representatives to show support. Keep in mind the unofficial support point system: handwritten letters are valued highest, phone calls are probably ranked next, while personal emails and faxes—though the most convenient—probably carry less weight. Of course, if your local representative is about town for a fish fry or supermarket opening, a handshake and a reminder will go a long way too.

In the meantime, we wish to thank representatives Merika Coleman and Paul DeMarco who sponsored the bill in the House, and also thank those members of the current Red Mountain Park Steering Committee (Rob Fowler among others) who drew up and submitted this legislation so quickly and strategically.

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News From the Land Trust

New Name
What was previously a mouthful has been trimmed to a quick bite. The Black Warrior Cahaba Rivers Land Trust is now The Freshwater Land Trust. A great name befitting a great organization.

Community Foundation Awards Grant
In December, the Land Trust received a $75,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to help fund the Red Mountain Park master plan! Many thanks are due to the Community Foundation board members for considering the Land Trust's grant request and the money will be put to use immediately to begin developing the Red Mountain Park master plan.

Landscape Design Firm Contract Finalized
Contract negotiations have been finalized with Wallace, Roberts & Todd, the design firm committed to developing the Red Mountain Park Master Plan. This is great news and means that meetings can commence to draw up a schedule for public forums to discuss Park amenities. Getting the word out about these forums and engaging participants from all prospective user groups is the primany mission of the Friends group at this point. We will be following and reporting on all progress with WRT.

Celebrate Earth Day with the Land Trust!
On Earth Day (Saturday, April 22) the Land Trust will welcome the public to its restoration site on Shades Creek near Bessemer to help plant native trees, shrubs, and grasses. Over the past year, the Land Trust has worked at this 40-acre site to remove a dense stand of invasive privet plants. Now, we are planting native trees, shrubs, and grasses across the site in an effort to re-establish a native bottomland vegetative community.

You can help in this effort by joining them from 9:00am to 12:00pm at the Shades Creek Restoration Site to plant several hundred trees and shrubs. Lunch and drinks will be provided, but be sure to bring clothes & shoes that you can get dirty and wet plus sunscreen. If you plan to attend, please call them at 214-8613 and register so that they will have enough supplies for everyone.

Directions: From Birmingham, take I-65 south to I-459 and head west toward Tuscaloosa. Take Exit #6 (Bessemer / Helena) and turn right onto Morgan Road heading north. Go approximately 2 miles and look for the fish and leaf signs on the right marking the entrance to the site. Turn down the gravel road and go approximately ¼ mile to the parking area.

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Portico Magazine Features RMP in Article

In the March issue of Portico, a local lifestyle magazine, you will find an article on Red Mountain Park which focuses specifically on Wendy Jackson's efforts to put the Park proposal together. The article also highlights the work of Bobby Humphrey and the Friends organization to get the word out to the citizens of Birmingham. Thanks to Portico for their coverage.

Thanks for your support,

John Cobbs
Friends of Red Mountain Park