Parks and Greenways in Huntsville

Big Spring Park in Downtown

An extension collection of parks and greenways exists in Huntsville, Alabama for the public's recreational use.

Parks

Parks within Huntsville city limits

The city of Huntsville currently has 57 parks which cover over 3,000 acres of land.[1][2]

Park Name Location Address Acreage Playground Walking Trails Number of Fields and Courts Notes
Soccer Football Baseball Softball Basketball Tennis
Archer Park Southwest 3315 Archer Dr 3.62 Yes No 1 2
Beirne Ave Park Northeast 330 Beirne Av 1.68 Yes No 1 2 Located across the Street from Goldsmith Schiffman Field
Bell Mountain Park Southwest 2560 Redstone Rd 30.05 Yes No 1 1 2 2
Bicentennial Park Downtown 315 Fountain Cir 0.30 No No Passive Greenspace
Big Spring Park Downtown 200 Church St 17.96 No Yes Passive Greenspace
Brahan Spring Southwest 500 Drake Av 169.92 Yes No 3 1 5 5 6 outdoor volleyball fields and 2 playgrounds
Buchanan Park Southwest 10044 Fielding Dr 3.97 Yes No 1 1 2
California Street Park Southeast 708 California St 2.00 Yes No 1 2
Cavalry Hills Park Northwest 2800 Poplar Av 6.91 Yes No 2 1 2
Chelsea Park Southwest 2851 Chelsea Ln 3.50 Yes No 1 1
Cove Park Southeast 834 Old Highway 431 98.04 Yes No 1 2 2
Creekwood Park Northwest 360A Harvestwood Ct 71.88 Yes Yes Disc Golf Course, Passive Greenspace, Dog Park, connects to Indian Creek Greenway
Dog Spot Downtown 200 Cleveland Av 1.50 Yes No Passive Greenspace, Dog Park
Dr. Richard Showers, Sr. Park Northwest 4600 Blue Spring Rd 17.70 Yes Yes 1 1 Outdoor Exercise facility
Fern Bell / Fern Gulley Park Southwest 6900 Whitesburg Dr 14.20 Yes No 3 4 3 2 multipurpose fields
Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary Southeast Taylor & Terry Drake 375.7 No Yes Passive Greenspace
Halsey Park Southeast 435 White St 0.2 No No Passive Greenspace
Hastings Park Southwest 2801 Hastings Rd 0.34 Yes No
Hays Nature Preserve Southeast 7153 Hwy 431 S 552.35 No Yes Passive Greenspace, connects to Big Cove Creek Greenway and Flint River Greenway
Hermitage Park Southeast 915 Kennamer Dr 4.11 Yes No 1
Hillendale Park Northwest 2811 Holmes Av 0.39 Yes No
Holmes Avenue Park Northwest Holmes Av 2.9 Yes No 1 1
James C. Crawford Park Northeast 3915 Melody Rd 8.33 Yes No 1 1 formerly Edmonton Heights Park
John Hunt Park Southwest 2151 Airport Rd 428.01 Yes Yes 21 2 2 Outdoor Exercise facility and a multipurpose field
Jones Family Park Southeast 33 No Yes Passive Greenway, will be part of the future Aldridge Creek greenway expansion
Ken Johnston Park Southeast 1100 Mt. Gap Rd 18.36 Yes No Outdoor Exercise facility, Trail head for Aldridge Creek greenway
Kent Roberson Park Southwest 7620 Logan Dr 13.68 Yes No 2 2 2 Also known as "Logan Park"
Kids' Space Southwest 2010 Airport Rd 0 Yes No Located within John Hunt Park
Kiwanis Soccer Park Southwest 4201 Bob Wallace Av 6.39 No No 1
Knox Creek Park Northwest 180 Greenbank Dr 26.76 Yes No 1
Lakewood Park Northwest 2225 York Rd 32.45 Yes No 2 3 1 multipurpose field
Lewter Park Northeast 1501 Wellman Av 0.52 Yes No formerly Wellman Park
Maple Hill Park Southeast 1351 Mcclung Av 8.64 Yes No Also known as "Dead Children's Playground," 1 multipurpose field
Maplewood Park Northwest 4943 N Mem Pkwy 9.5 Yes No 1
Mastin Lake Park Northwest 3315 Watson Dr 31.73 Yes No 1 2 2
Mayfield Park Southwest 550 Thornton Av 8.88 Yes No 2 2
McGucken Park Southeast 13020 Bailey Cove Rd 37.1 Yes Yes 2 1 2 3 2 accesses Aldridge Creek Greenway
Meadow Hill Park Northwest Medaris Rd 1.06 Yes No 1 1
Merrimack Park Southwest 3501 Triana Blvd 46.8 Yes No 10 Also known as "Huntsville Park"
Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex Southwest 3590 Patton Rd 64.92 Yes No 6
Oak Park Northeast 2250 Oakwood Av 9.2 Yes No 2 2
Oakmont Park Northwest 2224 Euclid Rd 3.72 Yes No
Ogden Park Southwest 5251 Triana Blvd No No 1 1 multipurpose field
Optimist Park Northeast 703 Oakwood Av 8.5 Yes No 1 Playground good size for toddlers, small equipment
Philpot Park Northeast 1211 Philpot Av 4 Yes No 2 Also known as "Chapman Park"
Pine Park Southwest 3951 Pine Av 2.34 Yes No
Robert E. Lee Cramer Jr. Park Southeast 600 Meridian St 2.8 Yes No A part of "Gateway Greenway"
Sandhurst Park Southwest 2928 Green Cove Rd 17.1 Yes No 1 2
Scenic Overlook Southeast 2251 Governors Dr 4.5 No No Passive Greenspace
Scenic View Park Northwest 2705 Scenic View Dr 5.1 Yes No 1
Sherwood Park Northwest 325 Town and Country Dr 5 Yes Yes 1 1 Also known as "Forest Park"
Skatepark Downtown 200 Cleveland Av 0.66 No No
Stoner Park Northwest 3715 Bragg St 67.62 Yes No 1 1 6 4 2
University Park Northwest 4419 Saundralane Dr 10.74 Yes No 1 4 A part of UAH
Veteran's Park Downtown 200 Monroe St 2.64 No No formerly Gateway Park, accesses Gateway Greenway, Passive Greenspace
Willow Park Southeast 1928 Aftonbrae Dr 9.34 Yes Yes 2 2 1 multipurpose field
Windsor Manor Park Northwest 6500 Pisgah Dr 7.99 No 1 1 2

Proposed parks

Current greenways

As of November 2013, there are 9 greenways with 26 miles (42 km) of trail.

Aldridge Creek Greenway

Aldridge Creek Greenway is a 103.55 acre greenway[3] consisting of a 4.25 miles (6.84 km) long walking and biking trail in South Huntsville that runs along Aldridge Creek connecting Ken Johnston Park to Ditto Landing and the Tennessee River. The greenway runs north along Aldridge Creek from the main trailhead for 1.25 miles to the sidewalk on the west side of Bailey Cove Rd just north of Country Lane Drive and south to the entrance of Ditto landing, about 3.5 miles. The address of the park is 1100 Mountain Gap Rd at Ken Johnston Park just west of Bailey Cove Rd. Parking is also available on the south end of the greenway at Ditto Landing and additional parking is located behind Challenger School on Chaney Thompson Rd.

The city had planned to continue the greenway north to connect to Atwood Linear Park Greenway. However, Valley Hill Country Club will not allow the city to expand the greenway through their golf course. The city has plans to construct future segments of the greenway from the current north terminus to the east end of Esslinger Road.

Atwood Linear Park Greenway

Atwood Linear Park Greenway is a 0.9 miles (1.4 km) long trail[4] that connects Jones Family Park to the Valley Hill Country Club. The trail is a muti-use walking and biking trail that runs along Atwood Drive in the Jones Valley area of Southeast Huntsville. Parking is available at Jones Family Park on the north side of Four Mile Post Road.

Big Cove Creek Greenway

Big Cove Creek Greenway is a 53 acre greenway in southeast Huntsville's Hampton Cove subdivision the runs along Big Cove Creek north to just south of Caldwell Lane. There is a multipurpose walking and biking trail that is 2.86 miles (4.60 km) long[5] that connects the Flint River greenway to the Hampton Cove community. The city of Huntsville plans to extend the greenway north to Monte Sano Mountain and connect it to the existing Arrowhead trail.

Flint River Greenway

The Flint River Greenway is one of the newest greenways in the city of Huntsville. It is located in southeast Huntsville in the Hampton Cove subdivision. Currently, there is a 1.87 miles (3.01 km) long walking and biking trail[6] connecting Old US 431 to the Big Cove Creek Greenway in the Hays Nature Preserve where parking is available. The city of Huntsville plans to extend the greenway south along the Flint river to eventually connect to the Tennessee River greenway.

When completed, the greenway will be 36.0 miles (57.9 km) long and contain canoe launch sites spaced throughout the length of the greenway.

Gateway Greenway

Gateway Greenway is a 0.6 miles (0.97 km) trail that connects Veterans Park to Pratt Avenue[7] in downtown Huntsville. Parking is available along Meridian Street.

Indian Creek Greenway

Indian Creek Greenway
Type Public Greenway
Location Huntsville, Alabama
Area 61.68 acres (0.10 sq mi)

Indian Creek Greenway is a series of greenways that make up 3.77 miles (6.07 km) of walking and biking trails in West Huntsville.[8] The north section of the greenway is located in the Providence subdivision off of University Drive. The larger, south section of the greenway, which is 2.95 miles (4.75 km) long, runs from Creekwood Park to Old Madison Pike just west of Cummings Research Park. Parking is available at the trail heads at Creekwood Park and off Old Madison Pike near Slaughter Road.

Little Cove Road Greenway

Little Cove Road Greenway is made up of a 5.04 miles (8.11 km) mile trail[9] that connects Big Cove Creek greenway north to the Flint River in Southeast Huntsville. The greenway travels along Little Cove Road/Eastern Bypass/Old Hwy 431.

Tennessee River Greenway

The Tennessee River Greenway connects to the Aldridge Creek Greenway at Ditto Landing in South Huntsville and adds an additional 0.93 miles (1.50 km) of walking and biking trail than runs along the Tennessee River.[10] This greenway connects Ditto Landing to the Madison County Marina. Parking is available at Ditto Landing. The City of Huntsville plans to extend the greenway south along the river and will end at the Flint River, where it will eventually connect to the Flint River greenway.

Wade Mountain Greenway

In North Huntsville lies nearly 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of greenway with 1 mile (1.6 km) of a paved trail and 4.375 miles (7.041 km) miles is an unpaved hiking trail.

Proposed greenways

Trails

Preserves

Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary

The Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary is located in southeast Huntsville, near Hampton Cove, to the west of the Hays Nature Preserve.

Hays Nature Preserve

The Hays Nature Preserve, located in southeast Huntsville near the subdivision of Hampton Cove, is the city's largest and most undeveloped parklands.[14] The Flint River and Big Cove Creek greenways run through the nature preserve and connect with various hiking trails along the way.[15][16]

Wade Mountain Nature Preserve

Wade Mountain Nature Preserve is a series of greenways and trails that make up 5.375 miles (8.650 km) of walking and hiking trails in North Huntsville.[17] The trails are made up of 1 mile (1.6 km) long paved trail and 4.375 miles (7.041 km) of unpaved hiking trails that lead up Wade Mountain to the Devil's Race Track. This Preserve is managed in partnership with the Land Trust of North Alabama.

References

  1. ↑ City og Huntsville Parks Department
  2. ↑ City of Huntsville Parks and Gyms Guide
  3. ↑ City of Huntsville - Aldridge Creek Greenway
  4. ↑ City of Huntsville - Atwood Linear Park Greenway
  5. ↑ City of Huntsville - Big Cove Creek Greenway
  6. ↑ City of Huntsville - Flint River Greenway
  7. ↑ City of Huntsville - Gateway Greenway
  8. ↑ City of Huntsville - Indian Creek Greenway
  9. ↑ City of Huntsville - Little Cove Road Greenway
  10. ↑ City of Huntsville - Tennessee River Greenway
  11. ↑ - Land Trust of North Alabama
  12. ↑ Madison County Nature Trail - www.madisoncountyal.gov
  13. ↑ Monte Sano State Park - Alabama State Parks
  14. ↑ Operation Green Team - Hays Nature Preserve
  15. ↑ City of Huntsville - Hays Nature Preserve trails map
  16. ↑ Hays Nature Preserve trails
  17. ↑ City of Huntsville - Wade Mountain Preserve