Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:RMNClogot.gif|right]] | [[Image:RMNClogot.gif|right]] | ||
The '''Ruffner Mountain Nature Center''' is a 1,011-acre natural park situated on [[Ruffner Mountain]] in eastern [[Birmingham]]. The park began with the [[Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition]]'s acquisition of a 24-acre mountainside parcel in [[South East Lake]] in [[1977]]. The park operates educational programs which makes use of the area's natural and historical resources. The center also keeps specimens of numerous native animal species, most of which are injured and unsuited for return to the wild. The nature center and park entrance are at 1214 [[81st Street South]] | The '''Ruffner Mountain Nature Center''' is a 1,011-acre natural park situated on [[Ruffner Mountain]] in eastern [[Birmingham]]. The park began with the [[Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition]]'s acquisition of a 24-acre mountainside parcel in [[South East Lake]] in [[1977]]. The park operates educational programs which makes use of the area's natural and historical resources. The center also keeps specimens of numerous native animal species, most of which are injured and unsuited for return to the wild. The nature center and park entrance are at 1214 [[81st Street South]]. The center's executive director is [[Kathy Stiles Freeland]]. | ||
Between 1977 and [[2000]] the park expanded with parcels obtained through Forever Wild, the Trust for Public Land, and donations from United Land (a division of Walter Industries). The park's [[2005]] master plan calls for the acquisition of 500-600 more acres and the construction of a new nature center. | Between 1977 and [[2000]] the park expanded with parcels obtained through Forever Wild, the Trust for Public Land, and donations from United Land (a division of Walter Industries). The park's [[2005]] master plan calls for the acquisition of 500-600 more acres and the construction of a new nature center. | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
The park is crossed by 18 miles of hiking trails, highlighted by scenic overlooks, an abandoned limestone quarry and the surface ruins from an old iron ore mine. Frequent special events and guided hikes are scheduled year-round. The park hosts spring break and summer day camps. | The park is crossed by 18 miles of hiking trails, highlighted by scenic overlooks, an abandoned limestone quarry and the surface ruins from an old iron ore mine. Frequent special events and guided hikes are scheduled year-round. The park hosts spring break and summer day camps. | ||
Fund-raising for the realization of Ruffner Mountain Park's master plan is being coordinated as a "[[Three Park Initiative|parknership]]" with the campaigns to create [[Red Mountain Park]] and the [[Railroad Reservation Park]]. Together, the three parks would give residents of Birmingham more public green space than in any other American city. | A $600,000 project completed in [[2008]] added a wetlands environment to the park's educational landscapes. A series of small pools stocked with native grasses and wetlands plants are fed from an artesian well near the [[Irondale]] side of the park. Graveled paths and wood bridges form a handicapped-accessible trail around the wetland. A new entrance gate and visitors center will be completed in [[2009]]. Other projects in the center's $5.5 million master plan include a new visitors' center and educational pavilion on the [[East Lake]] end of the park. | ||
Fund-raising for the continued realization of Ruffner Mountain Park's master plan is being coordinated as a "[[Three Park Initiative|parknership]]" with the campaigns to create [[Red Mountain Park]] and the [[Railroad Reservation Park]]. Together, the three parks would give residents of Birmingham more public green space than in any other American city. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Ruffner Park]] in [[Irondale]]. | * [[Ruffner Park]] in [[Irondale]]. | ||
==References== | |||
* Hickerson, Patrick (May 17, 2008) "Ruffner Mountain Nature Center offering sneak-peek tours of new wetlands habitat." ''Birmingham News'' | |||
==External link== | ==External link== | ||
| Line 16: | Line 21: | ||
[[Category:Ruffner Mountain]] | [[Category:Ruffner Mountain]] | ||
[[Category:81st Street South | [[Category:81st Street South]] | ||
[[Category:Birmingham parks]] | [[Category:Birmingham parks]] | ||
[[Category:Wildlife refuges]] | [[Category:Wildlife refuges]] | ||
Revision as of 20:34, 17 May 2008
The Ruffner Mountain Nature Center is a 1,011-acre natural park situated on Ruffner Mountain in eastern Birmingham. The park began with the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition's acquisition of a 24-acre mountainside parcel in South East Lake in 1977. The park operates educational programs which makes use of the area's natural and historical resources. The center also keeps specimens of numerous native animal species, most of which are injured and unsuited for return to the wild. The nature center and park entrance are at 1214 81st Street South. The center's executive director is Kathy Stiles Freeland.
Between 1977 and 2000 the park expanded with parcels obtained through Forever Wild, the Trust for Public Land, and donations from United Land (a division of Walter Industries). The park's 2005 master plan calls for the acquisition of 500-600 more acres and the construction of a new nature center.
The park is crossed by 18 miles of hiking trails, highlighted by scenic overlooks, an abandoned limestone quarry and the surface ruins from an old iron ore mine. Frequent special events and guided hikes are scheduled year-round. The park hosts spring break and summer day camps.
A $600,000 project completed in 2008 added a wetlands environment to the park's educational landscapes. A series of small pools stocked with native grasses and wetlands plants are fed from an artesian well near the Irondale side of the park. Graveled paths and wood bridges form a handicapped-accessible trail around the wetland. A new entrance gate and visitors center will be completed in 2009. Other projects in the center's $5.5 million master plan include a new visitors' center and educational pavilion on the East Lake end of the park.
Fund-raising for the continued realization of Ruffner Mountain Park's master plan is being coordinated as a "parknership" with the campaigns to create Red Mountain Park and the Railroad Reservation Park. Together, the three parks would give residents of Birmingham more public green space than in any other American city.
See also
- Ruffner Park in Irondale.
References
- Hickerson, Patrick (May 17, 2008) "Ruffner Mountain Nature Center offering sneak-peek tours of new wetlands habitat." Birmingham News
External link
- Ruffner Mountain website