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[[Image:Rotary Trail rendering.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Architect's rendering of the 20th Street entrance to the Rotary Trail]]
[[Image:Rotary Trail rendering.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Architect's rendering of the 20th Street entrance to the Rotary Trail]]
[[Image:The cut.jpg|right|thumb|375px|The 1st Avenue Cut, looking west from the [[24th Street Viaduct]] in 2005]]
[[Image:The cut.jpg|right|thumb|375px|The 1st Avenue Cut, looking west from the [[24th Street Viaduct]] in 2005]]
'''Rotary Trail''' (formerly called '''Line Park''') is a pedestrian greenway constructed in [[2014]] in the [[1st Avenue Cut|railroad cut]] in the center of [[1st Avenue South]] between [[20th Street South|20th]] and [[24th Street South]]. The project was proposed and largely funded by the [[Rotary Club of Birmingham]] in recognition of their centennial year.
'''Rotary Trail''' (formerly called '''Line Park''') is a pedestrian greenway constructed in [[2014]] in the [[1st Avenue Cut|railroad cut]] in the center of [[1st Avenue South]] between [[20th Street South|20th]] and [[24th Street South]]. The project was proposed and largely funded by the [[Rotary Club of Birmingham]].


The idea of using the railroad cut for recreation dates back to at least the 1980s. Former [[Birmingham City Council]] member [[Elias Hendricks]] headed an informal "Save the Cut" movement in response to proposals in the [[2003 City Center Master Plan]] to fill in the below-grade areas and plant trees in the resulting street-level median to create a boulevard on 1st Avenue South. The [[Central City neighborhood association]] has organized periodic clean-up days to keep the cut cleared of debris.
The idea of using the railroad cut for recreation dates back to at least the 1980s. Former [[Birmingham City Council]] member [[Elias Hendricks]] headed an informal "Save the Cut" movement in response to proposals in the [[2003 City Center Master Plan]] to fill in the below-grade areas and plant trees in the resulting street-level median to create a boulevard on 1st Avenue South. The [[Central City neighborhood association]] has organized periodic clean-up days to keep the cut cleared of debris.


The Rotary Club jump started the project with a $2.5 million commitment and sought to partner with the city, the [[Freshwater Land Trust]], [[Operation New Birmingham]] and the [[Railroad Park Foundation]] to reclaim the cut as part of a pedestrian and cycling greenway. At the same time, students from [[Auburn University]]'s Master of Landscape Architecture program participated in an [http://aurbanmla.blogspot.com/ Urban Design Studio] focusing on how to re-work the cut as a pedestrian corridor. The club hired [[Jane Ross]] of [[Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood]] to prepare design drawings for a linear park with running paths, benches, landscaping, lighting and other amenities. The western entrance will be marked by a 46-foot-tall homage to the [[Magic City sign]] that formerly graced [[5th Avenue North]] outside the [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. Stairways will be built to connect the park to street grade below [[Rainbow Viaduct]] spanning it at [[21st Street South|Richard Arrington, Jr Boulevard South]]. An amphitheater will be constructed at [[23rd Street South|23rd Street]] with another entrance way marking the [[24th Street South|24th Street]] end of the trail.
The Rotary Club jump-started the project with a $2.5 million commitment to a major public project in recognition of their centennial year. After hearing a presentation from [[Wendy Jackson]] of the [[Freshwater Land Trust]] on the plans for a comprehensive [[Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System]], members voted to tackle the downtown link in the [[Jones Valley Trail]] which would extend [[Railroad Park]]'s pedestrian and cycling greenway eastward toward [[Sloss Furnaces]].


In addition to the major gift from the Rotary Club, the City of [[Birmingham]] has promised $2 million from a [[2012]] federal TIGER grant for streetscape and infrastructure improvements to enhance the project. The trail is envisioned to expand the [[Railroad Park]]'s impact eastward into [[downtown Birmingham]] and to serve as part of a proposed "Cross to Sloss" continuous recreational link between the [[Birmingham CrossPlex]] at [[Fair Park]] and [[Sloss Furnaces]]. That corridor would also  incorporate the [[Jones Valley Trail]], which is part of the overall [[Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System]].  
The club hired [[Jane Ross]] of [[Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood]] to prepare design drawings for a linear park with running paths, benches, landscaping, lighting and other amenities. At the same time, students from [[Auburn University]]'s Master of Landscape Architecture program participated in an [http://aurbanmla.blogspot.com/ Urban Design Studio] focusing on how to re-work the cut as a pedestrian corridor.
 
As the design developed, Rotarians latched on to the idea of marking the western entrance with a "[[Magic City sign]]" that formerly graced [[5th Avenue North]] outside the [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. A 46-foot-tall Stairways will be built to connect the park to street grade below [[Rainbow Viaduct]] spanning it at [[21st Street South|Richard Arrington, Jr Boulevard South]]. A small amphitheater was constructed at [[23rd Street South|23rd Street]] with another entrance way marking the [[24th Street South|24th Street]] end of the trail. The linear park also features solar-powered charging stations for personal electronic devices.
 
In addition to the major gift from the Rotary Club, the City of [[Birmingham]] contributed $2 million from a [[2012]] federal TIGER grant for drainage, streetscape and infrastructure improvements to enhance the project. Additional large gifts came from the [[Freshwater Land Trust]], the [[Jefferson County Department of Health]], [[UAB]], the [[Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham]], the [[Goodrich Foundation]], the [[Susan Mott Webb Foundation]], the [[Alabama Department of Transportation]], [[Alabama Power]] and [[CSX]].
 
A dedication ceremony for the Rotary Trail and "sign lighting" was held on [[April 6]], [[2016]].


==References==
==References==
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* Tomberlin, Michael (December 29, 2013) "First look: $4.5 million Rotary Trail will extend Railroad Park greenway past 24th Street." {{BN}}
* Tomberlin, Michael (December 29, 2013) "First look: $4.5 million Rotary Trail will extend Railroad Park greenway past 24th Street." {{BN}}
* Tomberlin, Michael (March 10, 2014) "Rotary Trail could get $3.5 million backing from Birmingham for linear park." {{BN}}
* Tomberlin, Michael (March 10, 2014) "Rotary Trail could get $3.5 million backing from Birmingham for linear park." {{BN}}
* Stein, Kelsey (April 3, 2016) "Rotary Trail forged by nostalgia, Birmingham's recent resurgence." {{BN}}


[[Category:1st Avenue South]]
[[Category:1st Avenue South]]
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[[Category:Birmingham parks]]
[[Category:Birmingham parks]]
[[Category:Linear parks]]
[[Category:Linear parks]]
[[Category:2014 buildings]]
[[Category:2016 buildings]]
[[Category:Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood buildings]]
[[Category:Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood buildings]]

Revision as of 10:11, 4 April 2016

Architect's rendering of the 20th Street entrance to the Rotary Trail
The 1st Avenue Cut, looking west from the 24th Street Viaduct in 2005

Rotary Trail (formerly called Line Park) is a pedestrian greenway constructed in 2014 in the railroad cut in the center of 1st Avenue South between 20th and 24th Street South. The project was proposed and largely funded by the Rotary Club of Birmingham.

The idea of using the railroad cut for recreation dates back to at least the 1980s. Former Birmingham City Council member Elias Hendricks headed an informal "Save the Cut" movement in response to proposals in the 2003 City Center Master Plan to fill in the below-grade areas and plant trees in the resulting street-level median to create a boulevard on 1st Avenue South. The Central City neighborhood association has organized periodic clean-up days to keep the cut cleared of debris.

The Rotary Club jump-started the project with a $2.5 million commitment to a major public project in recognition of their centennial year. After hearing a presentation from Wendy Jackson of the Freshwater Land Trust on the plans for a comprehensive Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System, members voted to tackle the downtown link in the Jones Valley Trail which would extend Railroad Park's pedestrian and cycling greenway eastward toward Sloss Furnaces.

The club hired Jane Ross of Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood to prepare design drawings for a linear park with running paths, benches, landscaping, lighting and other amenities. At the same time, students from Auburn University's Master of Landscape Architecture program participated in an Urban Design Studio focusing on how to re-work the cut as a pedestrian corridor.

As the design developed, Rotarians latched on to the idea of marking the western entrance with a "Magic City sign" that formerly graced 5th Avenue North outside the Birmingham Terminal Station. A 46-foot-tall Stairways will be built to connect the park to street grade below Rainbow Viaduct spanning it at Richard Arrington, Jr Boulevard South. A small amphitheater was constructed at 23rd Street with another entrance way marking the 24th Street end of the trail. The linear park also features solar-powered charging stations for personal electronic devices.

In addition to the major gift from the Rotary Club, the City of Birmingham contributed $2 million from a 2012 federal TIGER grant for drainage, streetscape and infrastructure improvements to enhance the project. Additional large gifts came from the Freshwater Land Trust, the Jefferson County Department of Health, UAB, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the Goodrich Foundation, the Susan Mott Webb Foundation, the Alabama Department of Transportation, Alabama Power and CSX.

A dedication ceremony for the Rotary Trail and "sign lighting" was held on April 6, 2016.

References

  • Coman, Victoria L. (April 27, 2005) "Central City looks for help to tidy up old railroad cut." The Birmingham News
  • Spencer, Thomas (July 4, 2012) "Rotary Club of Birmingham exploring greenway linking Railroad Park and Sloss Furnaces." The Birmingham News
  • Tomberlin, Michael (December 29, 2013) "First look: $4.5 million Rotary Trail will extend Railroad Park greenway past 24th Street." The Birmingham News
  • Tomberlin, Michael (March 10, 2014) "Rotary Trail could get $3.5 million backing from Birmingham for linear park." The Birmingham News
  • Stein, Kelsey (April 3, 2016) "Rotary Trail forged by nostalgia, Birmingham's recent resurgence." The Birmingham News
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