Frequently Asked Questions

We have put together a short list of answers to questions that most often come up when we give presentations or engage in conversations about Red Mountain Park. If you have a question that is not answered here or would like to offer your own suggestions about how the project should proceed or what facilities should be included, feel free to email us.

1. Where is Red Mountain Park and how big is it?

view regional context map (PDF)

The park runs for 4.5 miles north of Lakeshore Drive and south of Ishkooda Wenonah road, west of Homewood’s Industrial Boulevard. The current park boundaries enclose almost 1200 acres, with rolling hills and flatter meadows along the southern side and steeper pitches along the northern side. To put it in perspective, Red Mountain Park will be one of the largest urban parks in America, roughly 35% larger than Central Park in New York City.  To get to the park from downtown, you could take I-65 S and exit at Lakeshore going West. Then continue past the Wildwood Shopping center, and go 1.4 miles past the West Oxmoor intersection. The land running up along the ridge to your right is Red Mountain Park

2. Is the park currently open to visitors? How can I see the property?
No, the park is not open yet to the general public but it will be very soon. We have built over 10 miles of trails on the eastern half of the park and are currently constructing a temporary parking lot and wayfing system for the trails. When these are in place, the eastern part of the park will be open to the public, seven days a week.  We expect this to occur around the end of 2011.  Meanwhile, each of the historic mining structures on the site is being meticulously documented and preserved.  Invasive plants are being cleared from the landscape to support the maintenance of native flora.   Construction plans are being created for the site of the future visitor center and other outstanding guest amenities, which will be part of the next phase of the park’s development.

Though Red Mountain Park is not yet open to the public, you can track the park’s progress by attending one of the several public tours of the property, or by calling to schedule a tour for your group.

3. Who owns and runs the park?
The park is governed by a state chartered entity, the Red Mountain Park Commission, containing about 15 appointed seats. The commission holds monthly public meetings (posted online) where park development plans and budgets are discussed. The park’s Executive Director, David Dionne, who reports to the commission, runs the day-to-day operations of Red Mountain Park with the support of a small staff. The Friends group works closely with the Commission and Staff to help build and maintain trails, lead public hikes, serve on committees, and serve as a bridge for community involvement in the park.

4. Will the park have a [name your feature] in it or a place where I can [name your activity]?

4 park visitors, courtesy Beth Maynor Young

At this moment, not much has been ruled out even though a couple of master planning assumptions are well decided. The park is intended to be primarily a public use recreational greenspace—not another ball field complex or amusement theme park. There will be historical features and interactive learning centers associated with the land’s mining heritage. There will be a large open meadow space with picnic tables and rendezvous points. There will be an all-access trail which loops the property and connects to activity-specific trails or areas for hikers, bikers, trail runners, dog walkers, frisbee golfers, etc. Initial plans also suggested a lake, an outdoor concert setting and rental buildings. To make your own preferences known, email the Friends group, attend a commission meeting or come out and take a tour with us and share your thoughts.

5. How much is all this going to cost and who is going to pay for it?
The land was initially acquired from US Steel for $7.5 million, at a deep discount from its appraised value of $16.5 million.  On top of this discount, US Steel also contributed $1 million cash toward the development of the park, bringing their total contribution to $10 million.  This is the largest philanthropic act in US Steel’s history and one of the largest conservation gifts in the history of the state of Alabama. Other major contributors to the purchase of the property include Jefferson County and a coalition of donors led by the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham in their Three Parks Initiative.

Though it has been projected that the full cost of a multi-phase project like this might be $40-50 million, estimates for phase 1 construction are $17 million.  The Red Mountain Park Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that will be conducting a formal fundraising effort within the private sector.  Additionally, the park will apply for public assistance in the form of general grants and specific grants for green initiatives that are part of the Federal stimulus plan.