Photo by Katie Turpen.
Wald Park
There are multiple football, baseball and softball leagues in addition to lacrosse and soccer teams competing for playing space in the city of Vestavia Hills. This demand is expected to increase, as the city is projected to be the home of an additional 1,000 to 1,500 children over the next 10 to 15 years.
The city is looking ahead to the future of parks. In March, the city council entered into an agreement with program management firm Brailsford and Dunlavey for the development of a Recreation and Athletics Master Plan.
In 2014, a park committee was formed of city employees and community stakeholders to put a three-part plan into action for Wald Park. Phase one included investigation of the subsurface conditions. The study is currently in phase two, which involves looking at sports needs and getting feedback from the community. Phase three will involve putting a master plan in place and looking at all the financial details.
“In looking at the next 15 years of growth, we wanted to have a clear picture of our future,” said Councilman Steve Ammons.
As part of phase two of the Wald Park study, a master plan is now being developed to include all the parks in the city.
“In talking to other cities where this has worked successfully, it just made sense for us to do this,” said Mayor Butch Zaragoza.
The Recreation and Athletics Master Plan will have two phases. The first phase will include strategic planning, financial analysis and survey implementation. The total fee for phase one totals $41,640. Phase two will include the master plan concept.
“We as the board have discussed in-depth the plan for future progress,” Parks and Recreation Board President Tommy Coggins said. “It’s the best move we can make so were given a competitive advantage to make all our parks a success.”
“We want to make sure we’re providing our citizens with what they want to have,” Zaragoza added.
Recent park developments include:
The city of Vestavia Hills is currently in negotiations to turn part of Altadena Valley Country Club into a public park with athletic fields and walking trails.
City manager Jeff Downes and Mayor Butch Zaragoza have been working with Keith Development Company since December on a plan for the 90-acre property. David Keith, the owner of the development company, wants to turn 30 acres of the country club into single-family homes and donate about 64 acres to create a park.
Downes said this potential new park would respond to resident desires for more walking and biking trails, and it would also relieve pressure on the city’s currently overcrowded athletic fields.
Sicard Hollow pedestrian tunnel
During a January meeting, the city council passed a resolution authorizing the city to enter an agreement with Volkert, Inc. for consulting services for the Sicard Hollow pedestrian tunnel.
In October, the city approved an agreement with ALDOT for the construction of a tunnel to connect pedestrian routes underneath Sicard Hollow Road. The tunnel will be for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Plans are also in palce for a Sicard Hollow community park, which will include an amphitheater for concerts, and 1.5 miles of a crushed stone fitness trail will offer residents various workout stations. Pets will be free to roam in a fenced-in dog park. Children will be able to enjoy a playground and a splash park. Additional amenities include a disc golf course and a large picnic pavilion.
With funding help from the Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Foundation, the city’s parks and recreation department installed a bridge in McCallum Park in January. Completed in January, the 100-foot stone and wood bridge opens up between 11 and 14 additional acres to visitors.
As part of the bridge installation, parks and recreation workers also cleared away about two acres of underbrush and added some crushed stone trails to around six acres of the park.
