Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
New Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail will connect west side of Birmingham to Red Mountain Park
Reading time: 3 minutes
For nearly two decades, it has been the dream of trail enthusiasts to link paths throughout the west side of Birmingham to the 1,500-acre Red Mountain Park. This week, that dream will come true.
On Wednesday, June 18th, the Freshwater Land Trust, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, City of Birmingham, Jefferson County Commission, and CSX Transportation will gather at the Birmingham Crossplex to announce the purchase of an inactive rail line that will be transformed into the Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail.
New trail to connect west Birmingham to Red Mountain Park
In one fell swoop, the new 4.5-mile rail-to-trail will connect west Birmingham residents to Red Mountain Park, the three-mile High Ore Line Greenway and the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail has been a long time coming, and I am so thankful to all of the amazing partners who are helping to bring this project to our community!”
Teri Sewell, U.S. Congresswoman, 7th Congressional District of Alabama
The $1.1 million acquisition of the rail line was made possible by the following groups and individuals:
- Freshwater Land Trust
- Jefferson County Commission
- Birmingham City Councilors Carol Clarke, District 8, Wardine Alexander, District 7; and Crystal Smitherman, District 6
- Jefferson County Department of Health
- Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation
- Robert F. Meyer Foundation
- Hugh Kaul Foundation
- Rails to Trails Conservancy
- Olivia Barton Ferriter
An early adopter of the project, Rep. Sewell also secured vital community planning funding in 2023.
Something we can all be proud of
Birmingham City Councilor Carol Clarke summed up the importance of the project to her community and The Magic City.
“I am incredibly grateful to play a small part in the collective effort to make this project possible. This is something we can all be proud of.
In transforming portions of an unused westside rail corridor into an amenity for recreation and shared well-being, we’re also creating economic opportunity for areas that have been underserved.”
Carol Clarke, Birmingham City Councilor, District 8
One step closer to 36+ mile loop
The new Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail also brings the Birmingham Metro area one step closer to completing the proposed 36+ mile trail loop around the greater Birmingham metropolitan area, connecting the cities of Birmingham, Fairfield, Homewood and Irondale via multi-use trail.
For info about the trail loop, visit www.freshwaterlandtrust.org.
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