Friends of Shades Mountain ask Hoover to back Hale Springs nomination to Forever Wild
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Summary
Volunteers and staff asked the Hoover City Council to adopt a nonbinding memorandum of understanding supporting the nomination of the 18-acre Hale Springs site in Bluff Park to the Forever Wild Land Trust and to commit to intergovernmental cooperation on access, parking and preservation.
Friends of Shades Mountain and city staff presented a nonbinding memorandum of understanding asking Hoover to support nomination of the 18-acre Hale Springs property for purchase and preservation by the Forever Wild Land Trust.
“My name is Larry Roddick and I am the president of the Friends of Shades Mountain,” Roddick said, noting the nonprofit has about 300 members and has worked for more than 20 years to preserve the steep northwest slope of Shades Mountain. He said Friends nominated Hale Springs to Forever Wild in April 2024 and that the property’s owner has indicated he would “consider an offer from Forever Wild Birmingham and Hoover.”
Peggy Quinn, a lifelong Bluff Park resident, described the site’s community value and historical springs. Jennifer Collins, a landscape architect, displayed maps showing the property lies within Birmingham but borders Hoover and county-controlled land, and said Forever Wild has asked for assurances about parking and public access to support acquisition.
City staff described the proposed MOU as nonbinding: it would express the cities’ and county’s willingness to work with Friends of Shades Mountain and to pursue measures that would help the Land Trust board evaluate a purchase, such as addressing parking and access logistics. The presenters said inclusion of Hoover and Birmingham on a joint statement would strengthen the nomination and the property could become a gateway to a larger preserve and trail network, including Freshwater Land Trust’s Red Rock Trail system.
Council members did not take a vote at the work session; staff said the MOU and a related resolution would be on Monday’s regular meeting agenda for formal action. If adopted by Hoover and Birmingham, presenters said the resolution would be conveyed to the Forever Wild Land Trust board as evidence of intergovernmental support.
The presenters emphasized historical and recreational value: the springs were an early drinking-water source and the site offers passive-recreation opportunities such as hiking and sunset viewing. Roddick told the council Friends of Shades Mountain coordinated support letters from both mayors and the Jefferson County Commission and said more than 700 people signed a 2023 petition supporting a Bluff Park preserve.
The council thanked the presenters and placed the MOU for consideration on the upcoming council agenda.
