BREAKING: Mayor Woodfin commits to building family fun center at Birmingham CrossPlex by 2024 [PHOTOS]

Crossplex
Rendering of the proposed Family Fun Center at the Birmingham Crossplex. (City of Birmingham)

After meeting with 5 Points West Community leaders, Mayor Randall Woodfin announced on social media last night his commitment to build a city-owned family fun center on Birmingham CrossPlex property by 2024.

Announcement

 Here is the statement Mayor Woodfin released on his Facebook account:

“I’m excited to announce the construction of a new family fun center on the Birmingham CrossPlex property. This facility is planned to have a skating rink, jump park, e-sports center, bowling alley, a food court, and more.

The city has already allocated $2 million for pre-construction, and our target is to have the center open in 2024.”

The city’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity has been working on the family fun center concept for about six months, a spokesperson from the mayor’s office told Bham Now. 

Along with a photo posted by the mayor on social media, below are the conceptual renderings of the project from the city.

City of Birmingham
Rendering of the proposed Family Fun Center at the Birmingham Crossplex. (City of Birmingham)
Birmingham
Rendering of the proposed Family Fun Center at the Birmingham Crossplex. (City of Birmingham)
Birmingham
Rendering of the proposed Family Fun Center at the Birmingham Crossplex. (City of Birmingham)

Providing Input and Moving Forward

On Monday, October 31st, the mayor and his leadership team met with local neighborhood leaders and District 8 Councilor Carol Clarke about the proposal to get their input. 

According to Clarke, the meeting went very well with good questions and discourse among the participants. By the end of the meeting, the neighborhood leaders unanimously endorsed moving forward with the development of the project.

Next Steps

World Games
The World Games Are Coming sign at Crossplex. (Pat Byington/Bham Now)

Given the “green light” from neighborhood leaders, in the coming weeks, the administration will provide additional plans, costs estimates and details for further collaboration with the neighborhoods and approval by the city council.  


What do you think of the city building a family fun center at Birmingham CrossPlex? Tell us on social media by tagging us at @bhamnow 

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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