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The '''Jones Valley Trail''' (also called the '''Jones Valley Greenway''', '''Jones Valley Corridor''', '''1st Avenue South Trail''' or the '''1st Avenue South Greenway''') is a 28.8-mile recreational trail which forms a major spine of the [[Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System]], planned and developed by the [[Freshwater Land Trust]].
The '''Jones Valley Trail''' (also called the '''Jones Valley Greenway''', '''Jones Valley Corridor''', '''1st Avenue South Trail''' or the '''1st Avenue South Greenway''') is a 28.8-mile recreational trail which forms a major spine of the [[Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System]], planned and developed by the [[Freshwater Land Trust]]. Eventually the Jones Valley Trail will become part of a continuous loop encircling all of the city's [[Southside]] by connecting to [[Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve]] and [[Red Mountain Park]].


The initial section of the corridor is a 2-mile walking and cycling trail connecting [[Railroad Park]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Parkside District]] to [[41st Street South]] in [[Avondale]]. The trail was opened in sections, with the connection to Avondale completed in [[2021]]. The western end of that segment of the trail is at the corner of [[1st Avenue South]] and [[18th Street South|18th Street]] where it connects to the Railroad Park trails and the [[18th Street Connector]]. From there, the trail passes by the [[Powell Avenue Steam Plant]] and [[Spire Alabama Midtown Business Center]].
The initial section of the corridor is a 2.5-mile walking and cycling trail connecting [[Railroad Park]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Parkside District]] to [[41st Street South]] in [[Avondale]]. The trail was opened in sections.


At [[20th Street South]] the trail enters a former [[1st Avenue South#1st Avenue Cut|railroad cut]] which was renovated by the [[Rotary Club of Birmingham]] in [[2014]] as the "[[Rotary Trail]]". The entrance to that section is marked by a large sign modeled after the "[[Magic City sign]]" which had once welcomed visitors from the [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. The Rotary Trail ends under the [[24th Street Viaduct]], where it is marked by the "[[Frank's Table]]" sculpture, dedicated in November [[2019]].
From Railroad Park's southeast corner at [[1st Avenue South]] and [[18th Street South|18th Street]] the trail follows 1st Avenue South eastward to [[20th Street South]], passing the [[Powell Steam Plant]] and [[Spire Alabama Midtown Business Center]].


One block later, at a trailhead with a bike tool kiosk, the greenway returns to a dedicated pathway, set off from the street by a row of bollards and trees as it continues past the [[Pepper Place]] district to [[32nd Street South]].
==Rotary Trail==
A dedicated walking path, the [[Rotary Trail]], begins there, marked by a large sign modeled after the "[[Magic City sign]]" which had once welcomed visitors from the [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. The sunken trail occupies the former [[1st Avenue South#1st Avenue Cut|railroad cut]] which was renovated with funding from the [[Rotary Club of Birmingham]] in [[2014]]. The eastern end of that section, where it passed below the is marked by [[24th Street Viaduct]], is marked by the "[[Frank's Table]]" sculpture, dedicated in November [[2019]].


The 9-block extension of the trail, from 32nd Street to [[41st Street South]] in [[Avondale]] was approved by the [[Birmingham City Council]] in March [[2021]] and is projected to open in the fall of that year. It would continue along 1st Avenue South to just past the [[35th Street Viaduct]], then turn a block south, alongside [[M2]], where the Freshwater Land Trust's offices are located, to the unpaved [[2nd Avenue South]] corridor extending to [[38th Street South]].
==Hugh Kaul Trail==
The [[Hugh Kaul Trail]], funded by the [[Hugh Kaul Foundation]], picks up from there, marked by a trailhead with a bike tool kiosk at [[25th Street South]]. From there the greenway returns to a dedicated pathway, set off from the street by a row of bollards and trees as it continues past the [[Pepper Place]] district to [[32nd Street South]].


The [[Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club]] is leading the development of a "[[Sunrise Plaza]]" feature on the section of the trail on axis with [[36th Street South]], which would incorporate benches, shade structures, and a sculpture by [[Deedee Morrison]]. The extension would continue as part of the paved road and terminate at 41st Street, alongside [[Satellite]] and [[41st Street Pub & Aircraft Sales]], directly opposite [[Avondale Brewing Co.]] and [[Beloved Community Church]].
A 9-block extension of the trail, from 32nd Street to [[41st Street South]] in [[Avondale]] was approved by the [[Birmingham City Council]] in March [[2021]] and opened in April [[2022]]. It continues along 1st Avenue South to just past the [[35th Street Viaduct]], then turns a block south, alongside [[M2]], where the Freshwater Land Trust's offices are located, to the unpaved [[2nd Avenue South]] corridor extending to [[38th Street South]].


An additional extension, dubbed the '''Continental Gin Connector''', would add pedestrian access to the [[Avondale Mills Shopping Center]] and [[Continental Gin]] complex, home of [[Cahaba Brewing Co.]], [[Redmont Distilling Co.]], and the collections of the [[Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association]].
[[Sean Fitzwater]] was commissioned by [[Freshwater Land Trust]] to complete a 450-foot long "[[I Love Birmingham mural]]" on the back wall of the [[Lee-Rodgers Tire Co.]] building facing the trail between [[35th Street South|35th]] and [[36th Street South]], which passes along the patio of [[Ghost Train Brewing Co.]]


Eventually the Jones Valley Trail would become part of a continuous loop encircling all of the city's [[Southside]] by connecting to [[Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve]] and [[Red Mountain Park]].
The [[Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club]] led the development of a "[[Sunrise Plaza]]" feature on the section of the trail on axis with [[36th Street South]], which incorporates benches, shade structures, and a monumental sculpture, "[[Inception]]", by [[Deedee Morrison]]. The extension continues as part of the paved road and terminates at 41st Street, alongside [[Satellite]] and [[41st Street Pub & Aircraft Sales]], directly opposite [[Avondale Brewing Co.]] and [[Beloved Community Church]].
 
An additional extension of the Hugh Kaul Trail, formerly dubbed the '''Continental Gin Connector''', adds pedestrian access to the [[Avondale Mills Shopping Center]] and [[Continental Gin]] complex, home of [[Cahaba Brewing Co.]], [[Redmont Distilling Co.]], and the collections of the [[Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association]]. This section was completed in August 2022.


==References==
==References==
* Beahm, Anna (February 5, 2020) "Extension will connect Rotary Trail to 41st Street." {{BN}}
* Beahm, Anna (February 5, 2020) "Extension will connect Rotary Trail to 41st Street." {{BN}}
* Byington, Pat (March 9, 2021) "Birmingham gives final approval for Jones Valley Trail Extension." ''BhamNow''
* Byington, Pat (March 9, 2021) "Birmingham gives final approval for Jones Valley Trail Extension." {{BNow}}
* Croxson, Madison (September 7, 2021) "Sunrise Rotary launches namesake project, The Sunrise Plaza—learn how to support." {{BNow}}
* "Anticipated Downtown Trail Connection from Rotary Trail to Continental Gin to be named Hugh Kaul Trail." (January 26, 2022) Freshwater Land Trust
* "FLT celebrates Earth Day with Hugh Kaul Trail ribbon cutting and groundbreaking." (April 22, 2022) Freshwater Land Trust
* "Parks And Greenway Advocates Celebrate New Trail Network in Birmingham." (April 26, 2022) ''Alabama NewsCenter'' / {{BT}}
* Byington, Pat (July 8, 2022) "“I Love Birmingham” mural commissioned by Freshwater Land Trust is finished." {{BNow}}
* Vetter, Selah (August 26, 2022) "Freshwater Land Trust’s Hugh Kaul Trail is complete + fundraising concert TONIGHT, Aug. 26." {{BNow}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://freshwaterlandtrust.org/find-a-trail/ Interactive Map] of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System at the Freshwater Land Trust website
* [http://freshwaterlandtrust.org/find-a-trail/ Interactive Map] of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System at the Freshwater Land Trust website


[[Category:Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System]]
[[Category:Jones Valley Trail|*]]
[[Category:2021 works]]
[[Category:2022 works]]

Latest revision as of 11:24, 30 August 2022

The Jones Valley Trail (also called the Jones Valley Greenway, Jones Valley Corridor, 1st Avenue South Trail or the 1st Avenue South Greenway) is a 28.8-mile recreational trail which forms a major spine of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System, planned and developed by the Freshwater Land Trust. Eventually the Jones Valley Trail will become part of a continuous loop encircling all of the city's Southside by connecting to Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve and Red Mountain Park.

The initial section of the corridor is a 2.5-mile walking and cycling trail connecting Railroad Park in Birmingham's Parkside District to 41st Street South in Avondale. The trail was opened in sections.

From Railroad Park's southeast corner at 1st Avenue South and 18th Street the trail follows 1st Avenue South eastward to 20th Street South, passing the Powell Steam Plant and Spire Alabama Midtown Business Center.

Rotary Trail

A dedicated walking path, the Rotary Trail, begins there, marked by a large sign modeled after the "Magic City sign" which had once welcomed visitors from the Birmingham Terminal Station. The sunken trail occupies the former railroad cut which was renovated with funding from the Rotary Club of Birmingham in 2014. The eastern end of that section, where it passed below the is marked by 24th Street Viaduct, is marked by the "Frank's Table" sculpture, dedicated in November 2019.

Hugh Kaul Trail

The Hugh Kaul Trail, funded by the Hugh Kaul Foundation, picks up from there, marked by a trailhead with a bike tool kiosk at 25th Street South. From there the greenway returns to a dedicated pathway, set off from the street by a row of bollards and trees as it continues past the Pepper Place district to 32nd Street South.

A 9-block extension of the trail, from 32nd Street to 41st Street South in Avondale was approved by the Birmingham City Council in March 2021 and opened in April 2022. It continues along 1st Avenue South to just past the 35th Street Viaduct, then turns a block south, alongside M2, where the Freshwater Land Trust's offices are located, to the unpaved 2nd Avenue South corridor extending to 38th Street South.

Sean Fitzwater was commissioned by Freshwater Land Trust to complete a 450-foot long "I Love Birmingham mural" on the back wall of the Lee-Rodgers Tire Co. building facing the trail between 35th and 36th Street South, which passes along the patio of Ghost Train Brewing Co.

The Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club led the development of a "Sunrise Plaza" feature on the section of the trail on axis with 36th Street South, which incorporates benches, shade structures, and a monumental sculpture, "Inception", by Deedee Morrison. The extension continues as part of the paved road and terminates at 41st Street, alongside Satellite and 41st Street Pub & Aircraft Sales, directly opposite Avondale Brewing Co. and Beloved Community Church.

An additional extension of the Hugh Kaul Trail, formerly dubbed the Continental Gin Connector, adds pedestrian access to the Avondale Mills Shopping Center and Continental Gin complex, home of Cahaba Brewing Co., Redmont Distilling Co., and the collections of the Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association. This section was completed in August 2022.

References

  • Beahm, Anna (February 5, 2020) "Extension will connect Rotary Trail to 41st Street." The Birmingham News
  • Byington, Pat (March 9, 2021) "Birmingham gives final approval for Jones Valley Trail Extension." Bham Now
  • Croxson, Madison (September 7, 2021) "Sunrise Rotary launches namesake project, The Sunrise Plaza—learn how to support." Bham Now
  • "Anticipated Downtown Trail Connection from Rotary Trail to Continental Gin to be named Hugh Kaul Trail." (January 26, 2022) Freshwater Land Trust
  • "FLT celebrates Earth Day with Hugh Kaul Trail ribbon cutting and groundbreaking." (April 22, 2022) Freshwater Land Trust
  • "Parks And Greenway Advocates Celebrate New Trail Network in Birmingham." (April 26, 2022) Alabama NewsCenter / The Birmingham Times
  • Byington, Pat (July 8, 2022) "“I Love Birmingham” mural commissioned by Freshwater Land Trust is finished." Bham Now
  • Vetter, Selah (August 26, 2022) "Freshwater Land Trust’s Hugh Kaul Trail is complete + fundraising concert TONIGHT, Aug. 26." Bham Now

External links

  • Interactive Map of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System at the Freshwater Land Trust website
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