How Birmingham parks + people benefit from a new nonprofit partnership

Sponsored

Accessibility is the driving force behind the new East Side Park being developed in the Roebuck Springs/South Roebuck neighborhood, bringing two Birmingham nonprofits to work together to benefit this project and other green spaces in Jefferson County.

Every second and fourth Tuesday since September 2025, adults from Glenwood, a nonprofit serving people with autism and behavioral health needs, show up at Ruffner Mountain to learn and volunteer with their friends at Jefferson County Greenways (JCG). They learn about plants and enjoy quality time digging into soil at propagation stations.

Some days, JCG naturalists Emily Hutto and Hunter Meadows bring out the organization’s wildlife ambassadors, such as a red-tailed hawk named Kittyhawk, snakes, owls and turtles. 

Keep scrolling for a video and more info about how this partnership began, how it’s growing and ways to help.

See the teams working together

(Ben Johnson / Bham Now)

How Glenwood + Jefferson County Greenways aligned

Glenwood participants had already been coming to Ruffner on their own for midweek picnics in the open pavilion. JCG wanted to bring the Glenwood group into programming, so JCG Naturalist Emily Hutto raced down to introduce herself and float the idea last August. By September, the group started the regular visits and began contributing to JCG’s propagation work.

🪴 ICYMI: The goal just for East Side Park: 60K native plants!

The JCG team treats the sessions with Glenwood similarly to its public work days, while adjusting the pace and adding skill instruction and educational programming.

“We were shocked and flattered they asked, because we had been looking, trying to find some partnerships to get our guys and our ladies out and more integrated into the community. They love it even more now; a lot of them enjoy the planting and are very excited about working with the animals.”
_{Kendra Moore, Program Manager of Community Experience, Glenwood}

What happens during Glenwood’s work days

☝️USE ARROWS TO VIEW SLIDESHOW

On the typical work day, the group’s activities can include starting seeds, dividing perennials or potting cuttings for Birmingham parks.

Last fall, they potted several hundred Buckeyes from seed, all bound for East Side Park. In a recent session, the group propagated Cherokee sedge salvaged from East Side Park so it can be returned when construction ends.

“Glenwood does an amazing job every single time they come out. We always look for their feedback to make each work day better than the last one. Our hope is that we would become a standard of ability-based volunteering and programming.”
_{Sloan Miles, Volunteer Coordinator, Jefferson County Greenways}

“We’re getting some production out of the group, but we are teaching them skills in the process, while getting them out of indoor spaces and into nature.”

_{Jamie Nobles, Conservation Director, Jefferson County Greenways}

Why this partnership matters + how to help

“This program gives our group an opportunity to express what they enjoy doing, and it’s so free and open. It’s skill-building. It’s sensory focused.”
_{Renee Fox, Glenwood Director of Program Operations for Adult Day Services}

“It’s teaching skills they could use in everyday life, and a couple of them are now more interested in planting. Coming here has truly woken up their green thumbs.”

_{Kendra Moore, Program Manager of Community Experience, Glenwood}

Inspired to act? Here are a few ways you can get involved:

🌱 Join JCG’s East Side Park Community Growing Program
❤️ Donate to the East Side Park campaign
🤝 Contact Glenwood if you have a similar partnership opportunity
🪴 Attend public Greenhouse Work Days at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve on Fridays

For more info on how to support both organizations, visit jeffcogreenways.org + glenwood.org.

Sponsored by: