Walking paths, light shows coming to Vulcan Park

A $4 million, three-part project is underway for Vulcan Park, thanks to the Kiwanis Club. To celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary in 2017, a grand-scale makeover is in the works.

The “big changes” include:

• A makeover for the North side of the park, improving the paths and the walking trails, as well as other parts in need of an upgrade.
• The creation of Kiwanis Centennial Park, a meeting an event space. This part of the improvement project will also include walking steps from the north side of the park directly up to Vulcan itself.
• A two-mile jogging and biking trail is planned for the second phase of the project. It will extend Vulcan Trail to Green Springs Highway, as a part of the planned 750 miles of Birmingham’s Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System.
• The last phase of the project includes the installation of a multicolored light show for Vulcan, like in the rendering below.

Plans for the upgrades have been in the works since March 2014 , and the Club hopes to break ground Spring 2017, completing the project by December. Funds for the Vulcan Park project were raised by Kiwanis Club members, along with corporate donations and pledges.

The Kiwanis Club has a long history with Birmingham’s park

system. It played a big role in building the city’s parks, including Vulcan’s move to Red Mountain after its stint at the World’s Fair.

According to a campaign video, the goal is to “invigorate Vulcan’s role as the unifying symbol of a new and dynamic Birmingham.”

We like that, Kiwanis, and hope that Bham Now is doing our small part with our hipster Vulcan icon.  Go Vulcan!

Bham Now’s “Modern, Hipster” Vulcan