Avondale Park

In 1886, Peyton King sold this land to the Avondale Land Company, preserving it for recreational use.[1] It's now the largest park in the city of Birmingham. The pond in the park is fed by King's Spring. The spring was hidden in a pipe in the 1970s, but the pipe was removed during a park renovation in 2011, and the spring's channel was reopened.[2] 

This is my favorite of the parks I visited in Birmingham. I actually came back to this park a couple of times because it was so relaxing and there were a variety of different ecosystems to enjoy.

Address: 41st St S & 5th Ave S, Birminghman, AL 35222
Admission: Free
Acres: 40
Approximate miles of trails: ½
Hours: Sunrise to sundown

Trail surface: Some natural, some paved

Features:

• Amphitheater
• Ball fields
• Picnic tables
• Pond
• Playground

Links:
Bhamwiki
Friends of Avondale Park

October 4, 2014

October 4, 2014

October 3, 2014

October 3, 2014

October 3, 2014

October 3, 2014

October 3, 2014

Vulcan Trail

This rails-to-trails paved path is about a mile long along a ridge overlooking Birmingham.

I wanted to check out the Vulcan Park and Museum, but although the park is directly adjacent to the east end of the trail, the rear entrance is closed, and it would be a half-mile or more walk along a busy street with no sidewalk to get to the museum from the trail! 

Address (approximate): 1866 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Admission: Free
Acres: Linear
Approximate miles of trails: 1 mile each way
Hours: The park is open dawn to dusk, but the parking lots have more specific hours
Trail surface: Asphalt

October 4, 2014

Railroad Park

This park opened in 2010. It hosts many events, but is also a nice park to just take a walk in and enjoy the water features.

Address: 1600 1st Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233
Admission: Free
Acres: 19
Approximate miles of trails: 0.5
Hours: 7:00am to 11:00pm
Trail surface: Mostly paved, some boardwalk

Features:

• Playground
• Skate area
• Restrooms

Links:
Railroad Park

October 5, 2014