Reviewed by: Pat Byington
KultureCity secures $7M from city of Birmingham for new national accessibility park
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On Tuesday, June 23, the Birmingham City Council passed a resolution allowing the City of Birmingham to help fund KultureCity’s transformation of the former Powell Steam Plant into the KultureCity National Accessibility Park—the world’s first national accessibility park.
Birmingham City Council approves funding for KultureCity National Accessibility Park
KultureCity is one step closer to transforming the former Powell Avenue Steam Plant into the world’s first national accessibility park.
During its regular Tuesday meeting, the Birmingham City Council passed a resolution forwarding the development of the KultureCity National Accessibility Park, an exciting redevelopment of the historic Powell Steam Plant that will include:
- The first-ever technical college in the U.S. built specifically to train, support, and place individuals with disabilities into meaningful employment
- Sensory-inclusive public spaces such as playgrounds, green spaces, walking paths, water features, retail and culinary offerings
- A performance amphitheater
To help facilitate its development, the City of Birmingham will contribute up to $7 million in financial incentives towards the project, including:
- An initial payment of $2.5 million upon execution of the agreement
- A payment of $1 million within 60 days of issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy
- Payments of up to $700,000.00 annually for five consecutive years beginning one year after construction is completed
“As a prominent and historically significant property in District 5 and the City as a whole, Powell Steam Plant has frequently been on my mind. After decades of watching and waiting, Birmingham finally has something tangible to look forward to. The fact that it will be home to Kulture City, a world leader in accessibility for individuals with neurocognitive differences, makes it truly remarkable.”
Darrell O’Quinn, City Councilor (District 5), City of Birmingham
According to the resolution, the City of Birmingham’s financial incentives are drawn from the General Fund and from previous budgets’ surplus.
In turn, KultureCity will invest at least $39.5 million into the project.
What you need to know about the KultureCity National Accessibility Park
In early 2025, KultureCity inked an $11M deal with Alabama Power to purchase the historic Powell Steam Plant, an 80,105 square-foot former steam plant dating back to 1895. Located next to Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham, the steam plant is the future home of KultureCity’s National Accessibility Park.
KultureCity—the local nonprofit founded more than a decade ago in Jefferson County as a local effort to support individuals with autism and sensory needs—has already secured commitments from public and private donors to help fund the $60 million National Accessibility Park project. In December 2025, the Jefferson County Commission unanimously approved a motion to commit an additional $3.5 million from the County’s Economic Development Fund.
Once complete, the KultureCity National Accessibility Park is expected to attract approximately 250,000 visitors annually, generate $45 million in total annual economic activity and produce an estimated $900,000 in annual Jefferson County tax revenue.
Excited to learn more about the KultureCity National Accessibility Park? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!
