People Can Lead Healthy Lives

fall2009city

Three Parks Initiative: Using a seed grant
to leverage corporate and foundation philanthropy

Volunteers gather at Redding Hoist House at Red Mountain ParkThe Community Foundation committed $1 million in 2006 to a unique three-park project with the power to make Birmingham a national leader in parks and green space.  Over the next 15 months, in partnership with Region 2020, the Community Foundation led the Three Parks Initiative to create two new parks — Railroad Park and Red Mountain Park — and to enhance facilities at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve.

By early 2008, businesses and foundations had committed more than $15 million to fund the first phase of projected needs for all three parks. Together with federal, county and city dollars and additional fundraising by the individual parks, the Three Parks Initiative made possible:

  • Creation of Railroad Park as a new urban destination which opened in 2010 in downtown Birmingham
  • Creation of Red Mountain Park as a ridgetop attraction in the Oxmoor Valley, which currently offers preview hikes organized by staff and volunteers
  • Expansion at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, including a new education center and wetlands area.

The Three Parks Fund within the Community Foundation will provide administrative and investment services until all pledges are collected and distribution completed to individual parks.  The parks continue individual efforts to raise funds for on-going operations and improvements. And our whole community benefits from even more special places where we can enjoy the outdoors.