By Chase Holmes, News Reporter
JEFFERSON COUNTY – Freshwater Land Trust has announced the opening of the newest trail of the Red Rock Trail System in Jefferson County on June 2, 2023.
(Photo by Freshwater Land Trust)
The two-mile trail addition adds to the Five Mile Creek Greenway extending from Gardendale to Brookside. This crushed stone trail starts at Black Creek Park in Fultondale and follows an inactive railway line along Black Creek, now ending at Newfound Creek in Brookside. With this additional segment, the trail will be extended from 6.25 miles to 8.25 miles (one-way), making it 16.5 miles round-trip. This makes it the longest trail in the Red Rock Trail System.
The Five Mile Creek Greenway Capital Improvement Cooperative District, is made up of the cities of Brookside, Center Point, Fultondale, Gardendale, Graysville, and Tarrant. These cities came together in 2002 as an effort to improve water quality and provide outdoor recreation for its citizens. This new trial is a continuation of that effort.
Much of the trail is in the shade of dense vegetation. Nearby amenities include a playground and dog park, restrooms located at Black Creek Park, benches, and a rain shelter.
“Five Mile Creek Greenway is great for walking, biking, running, and dog walking,” said Claire Speegle, Red Rock Trail System and Development Coordinator at Freshwater Land Trust. “This extension of the trail in Brookside is especially beautiful. The new section is next to two lakes that are visible from the trail.”
Freshwater Land Trust is preparing a public release of its plan to complete a 36-mile connected loop of existing, planned, and proposed future trails in the greater Birmingham area over the next 15 years. Once complete, it will connect Red Mountain Park to Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham and Ruffner Mountain
“Since 2010, Freshwater Land Trust has completed 129 miles of trails throughout Jefferson County, and we are thrilled to put more trail miles on the ground,” said Katie Holmes, Outreach and Communications Coordinator at Freshwater Land Trust. “This trail extension means that we are another step closer towards our ultimate goal, which is for every resident of Jefferson County to have access to a trail or green space within a mile of their home.”
