The waymark coordinates are located at the easternmost entrance to Railroad Park at 1st Ave South and 18th St South, even though the park itself stretches west for four city blocks to 14th St S.
The city of Birmingham has always been all about heavy industry, specifically steel production. In a quirk of geology, all three ingredients needed to make steel at the time -- limestone, coal, and iron ore -- could be found within 5 miles of the city Birmingham. This mineral wealth kicked off the first boom in Birmingham starting the 1870s. The arrival of the railroads, which made for easy transportation of raw materials and finished steel, sustained the growth and what has becoming known as "The Magic City." The third boom came in the 1920s as the city of Birmingham developed into one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the south.
From the date of the cities first platting, a wide belt of land was reserved for mechanical purposes and railroad purposes in the middle of downtown Birmingham. See: (
visit link)
In the southern part of that railroad reservation, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad operated a railyard that supported its freight depot. That railyard was located where Birmingham's Railroad Park is now. See: (
visit link)
This railyard operated in Birmingham for decades, with all that that entailed: blight, environmental damage, pollution, noise. With the abrupt decline of the Birmingham steel industry in the 1960s, the railroad reservation on the south side fell into disuse and decay.
Eventually the city of Birmingham bought this industrial wasteland area as part of an ambitious plan to revitalize the southern part of downtown Birmingham. After years of route environmental remediation, design, and construction Railroad Park opened in 2010 and has become a favorite destination for residents of and visitors to Birmingham.
Today, as Birmingham's derelict warehouses continue their transformation into trendy loft apartments and people move back downtown, Railroad Park is everybody's front yard. Blasterz enjoyed the energy and excitement of this area, and spent hours at Railroad Park enjoying the sights, sounds, and amenities of this amazing public space.
From the Railroad Park website: (
visit link)
"With 19 acres of green space in the middle of downtown Birmingham, including nine acres of open lawn, Railroad Park is the ideal place to have a little lunch, throw a little Frisbee, take a little jog.
More than 600 trees are planted onsite: a mixture of hardwoods, evergreens, and flowering trees. There are 50 Princeton elms, alone. The luxurious landscaping is punctuated with masses of annual, biennial and perennial flowers, making this oasis not only lovely, but a cool escape in the center of a bustling urban environment.
Many of the walls and seating areas are constructed from bricks and objects unearthed on the site when Railroad Park construction began. Re-used and recycled objects including hand cast bricks and original cobblestone can be found throughout the park.
Railroad Park is 30% water, with a beautiful lake, a stunning rain curtain, a bio-filtration wetlands area and ponds & streams everywhere. These many water features are irrigated by onsite wells.
In addition to the paths that wind throughout Railroad Park, the Rail Trail extends the length of the park, perfect for runners and walkers. At its highest point it affords breathtaking city views. The outer loop around the Park is just under 3/4 of a mile.
Railroad Park is open 7am-11pm daily. Railroad Park is monitored around the clock by a state-of-the-art security system and by rangers on patrol. Get driving directions to Railroad Park.
Railroad Park has been open since September 2010 and is proudly owned by the City of Birmingham. The City of Birmingham has a management agreement with the Railroad Park Foundation, a private not-for-profit 501c3 organization, to run Railroad Park. Admission to Railroad Park is free, thanks to the City of Birmingham and the many private donors that donate to Railroad Park Foundation. For information on how to support Railroad Park, please visit our Support page.
AMENITIES
The 17th Street Plaza is large and partially covered and houses the ranger station, the Railroad Park Foundation office, restrooms and the Railroad Park Dining Car.
Two age-appropriate play areas filled with modern playground equipment and a climbing dome invite toddlers and children to play as trains pass nearby.
Outdoor gym equipment in the style of Muscle Beach in California offers additional opportunities for good fitness in the middle of the city.
A variety of walking trails accommodate runners, walkers, and casual meanderers, including the Magic City Loop (3/4 mile), Rail Trail (1/3 mile), Powell Avenue Promenade (1/3 mile), and Limestone Trace (1/2 mile)
Water features make up 30% of the Park, featuring a beautiful lake, striking Rain Curtain, wetlands, ponds, and streams.
A designated skate area with three varying sizes of skate bowls keeps some of our young visitors entertained while the more faint of heart observe from benches.
Birmingham History Wall with timeline and images
Sweeping lawns, picturesque streams and the Birmingham skyline make Railroad Park a prime spot for memorable events of all kinds, such as weddings, class reunions, or family reunions. Contact us for more information on Railroad Park facility rental and to get on the calendar for private events.
PARK RULES
THE PARK IS OPEN DAILY FROM 7A.M. TO 11:00P.M.
PETS WELCOME UNDER CONTROL OF OWNER; PETS MUST BE ON A LEASH AT ALL TIMES
PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR PETS
PLEASE DO NOT PICK THE FLOWERS
NO LITTERING, GRAFFITTI, STICKERS OR SIDEWALK CHALK
NO SMOKING
NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL. ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY, WHEN PURCHASED FROM PARK VENDORS OR AS PROVIDED FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
NO WADING, JUMPING, SWIMMING OR FISHING IN THE LAKES AND PONDS
NO ROCK THROWING
NO VEHICLES
NO LYING ON BENCHES
NO PLACEMENT OF STAKES, POSTS OR SIGNS
NO PANHANDLING
NO ILLEGAL DRUGS
NO FEEDING THE BIRDS, FISH, OR WILDLIFE
NO BARBECUE GRILLS
SKATEBOARDING ALLOWED IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 SHOULD BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES ON THE PROPERTY
RAILROAD PARK IS MONITORED 24-HOURS A DAY, 7-DAYS A WEEK
Free parking is available along the outer perimeters of the Park along 1st Avenue South. Please refrain from parking in the spaces allotted for the various local businesses that operate along 1st Avenue South unless you are attending those venues. Violators may be subject to tickets or towing. Metered parking is available within a 3 to 4 block radius of the Park. Please be informed that METERED PARKING IS FREE DURING EVENINGS AFTER 6PM AND ON WEEKENDS."