People are interested in Mountain Brook and I know a lot about the subject matter–since I’ve lived much of my life and raised my children there. (I now live in Vestavia Hills)
When I write about Mountain Brook— I’m mostly talking about the three dozen municipalities that surround Birmingham—so you folks in Mountain Brook—please don’t take this personally.
“Growth has led to sprawl, but city planning has lagged behind in growth when it comes to bicycle and pedestrian safety…a lack of bike lanes and useful paths across the city make it one of the least bike-friendly cities in the United States.”
Well, we’ve had enough and we’re going to change the landscape of Birmingham forever.
David Dionne, Executive Director, Red Mountain Park
ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is David Dionne. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
We are in the process of building Red Mountain Park into one of the finest adventure parks in America.
If you have never heard of the Park or still think we are near Vulcan’s statue then you need to stop and take a look around. You will find an urban signature Park developing right beneath your nose and it will change your life and reshape your understanding of Birmingham. Continue reading World-class adventure park being built in Birmingham→
Teresa Thorne, Executive Director, City Action Partnership (CAP)
ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Teresa Thorne. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
We in Birmingham are doing a lot of things right.
If you don’t believe me, jump in your car and drive all over downtown and midtown.
There’s construction everywhere. In fact it’s difficult to get around because orange plastic barrels are blocking lanes, and fences are blocking sidewalks.
This is exciting—and you can see it with your own eyes.
I’m uniquely qualified to write about living in Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills.
I grew up and raised my children in Mountain Brook and about ten years ago my wife and I moved to Vestavia.
People in Birmingham– whether they live in Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, or in Trussville–want the same thing—to be around family and to have good jobs.
ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Giles Perkins. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
Editor’s note: Railroad Park transformed Birmingham. Against great odds and overwhelming skepticism, Giles Perkins and a group of committed community volunteers persevered. I asked Giles to write this piece to give insight to those of you who would like to make a difference.
I think it was in 2002 when I made my first visit to the lot that became Railroad Park.
My sons were younger then–their sister was not born yet–but they came with me and brought their bicycles. There was a burnt out railcar in the corner. In the middle of the lot there was an old trailer with someone living in it. A sign on the door said DON’T KNOCK UNLESS YOU ARE THE POLICE OR I WILL SHOOT.
We packed up the bicycles. On the ground I found a rusted railroad spike. I took that spike and put it on my desk as a reminder of the task I had taken on and the distance we needed to travel to have success. Continue reading I challenge our children to make Birmingham great→
