Photo by Sarah Finnegan
As part of the Community Spaces Plan by the city of Vestavia, Wald Park will be renovated among several other locations, as well as road work and stormwater management.
At an Aug. 20 work session, TCU Consulting presented the council with an update on the Community Spaces Plan, including more details about the Wald Park project.
City Manager Jeff Downes said design teams have been selected for all projects, and they have begun their work. Budgets have also been set for projects listed below:
- Wald Park: $15,429,766
- Future Community Building (Gold’s Gym space): $15,270,390
- Cahaba Heights Ballfields: $7,398,815
- New Merkel House: $500,000
- Crosshaven: $4,611,000
The city also budgeted $750,000 in grant funds.
Due to the city’s deal with Baumhower’s Victory Grille, which will be located at the old public works building just south of Wald Park, an emphasis was placed on that project, Downes said. Mass grading will begin soon, and the entire area will undergo level grading, meaning when the project is finished, all of the park will be level. Currently, the pool sits elevated while the ball field sits on lower ground. When the project is done, the entire area will be visible from U.S. 31, Downes said.
The city is also considering adding a main entrance to Wald Park, possibly on Roundhill Road, which would connect the library to the park across 31, Downes said.
Survey work has begun on Crosshaven Drive, Downes said, and consultants have been chosen for that project.
At the work session, the council also discussed the possibility of a business incubator, similar to Innovation Depot in Birmingham, which would help small businesses get on their feet. The incubator could be an arm of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, and could be placed in the community building, but no commitment or decision has been made, and talks are still ongoing, Downes said.
The council also discussed the city budget, expected to be voted on during the Sept. 10 council meeting.
Four sidewalk projects were also discussed and will be formally proposed for a vote on Sept. 10:
- Sidewalks on East Street, from the intersection of White Oak to entry of Rathmal Sports Park.
- Sidewalks in Cahaba Heights from Crosshaven Drive to Dolly Ridge Road.
- Sidewalks in the Mountainview area, going from Vestavia Hills Elementary East to the intersection of Vesclub and Lexington roads.
- Sidewalks connecting Rocky Ridge Road and Dolly Ridge Road.
