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Railroad Park
Park in Birmingham, Alabama, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Railroad Park is a 19-acre park in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, that opened in the fall of 2010.[1] Designed by architect Tom Leader, Railroad Park serves as a green space and a recreation center, hosting music venues, charity walks, movie nights, and other city events.[2] There is an amphitheater that seats 4,000 people.[3] It serves as a green space not only for residents but also for the city’s wildlife.[3] The number of observed bird species in Birmingham went up 250% after the park’s construction.[3] It was created with a special irrigation system to keep the park green while also providing water features such as fountains and streams for the park's visitors.[2]
There is a “Rail Trail” that allows visitors to get close to the tracks and see the trains in action.[2] The topography of the park was structured around the eleven rail-lines that intersect at this site.[3] It is centered around the railroad tracks that helped to industrialize the city and has clear views of Sloss Furnaces, a historic landmark.[2]
The park lies directly south of the Norfolk Southern and CSX rail lines through downtown Birmingham.[4] It stretches from 14th Street to 18th Street along First Avenue South.[4] UAB Hospital and Children's Hospital of Alabama are notable areas near the park.[2] The park is a public facility owned by the City of Birmingham and managed by the non-profit Railroad Park Foundation.[1]
In 2016 Rotary Trail was opened, which connects Railroad Park to Sloss Furnaces through a pedestrian greenway.[5]
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History
Railroad Park is rooted in the city of Birmingham’s history, having been partly built from materials sourced from old warehouses around it.[2] The vision for Railroad Park was first introduced with Olmsted brothers in 1924, who’s plans were ultimately scrapped due to lack of space in the rapidly expanding city.[5] The project’s reintroduction in the early 2000’s was backed by FORRD, the Friends of the Railroad District, and gained much traction from there.[5] The site of the park used to be a space for industrial waste for the surrounding warehouses.[3] The park was conceptualized as a bridge to join the north and south parts of Birmingham,[2] and it is now the most racially integrated area in the city.[3]
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Importance
Railroad Park represents more than a green space to the city, and due to the area in which it is situated, it is often seen as a bridge between the divided communities of Birmingham.[5] The residents of the city refer to it as "Birmingham's Living Room."[3] The park acknowledges the importance of the steel industry and railways to the development of Birmingham.[3]
See also
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References
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