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Jefferson County Greenways Commission praises Homewood partnership, invites public to Red Mountain Park ribbon-cutting
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Summary
Representatives from the Jefferson County Greenways Commission updated the Homewood City Council on regional trail funding and maintenance, thanked Homewood for early support, and invited residents to a Feb. 27 ribbon-cutting for new restroom facilities at Red Mountain Park.
Leah Davis of the Jefferson County Greenways Commission told the Homewood City Council on Feb. 9 that Homewood was among the first municipalities to contribute to a regional greenway fund and that the commission now receives public funding to maintain cross-jurisdictional parks and trails.
"Homewood was one of the first cities to start paying into that," Davis said, summarizing the commission's formation and funding. She said the commission evolved from nonprofit management into a state-recognized body after a 2023 bill signed by Governor Kay Ivey and now receives county and municipal line items to support maintenance and operations.
Davis noted ongoing connections between local projects, including work by Freshwater Land Trust and county staff on designs to extend the Shades Creek Greenway through the West Oxmoor corridor into the eastern portion of Red Mountain Park. She credited long-serving local partners, noting, "Jennifer has been a commissioner on our commission for a long time and her leadership has been pivotal as well." The commission also acknowledged TC Macklemore's earlier role in helping start the effort.
Fran March, also from the commission, thanked the mayor and council for support and encouraged residents to use the park. "You can easily walk here. You can hike, bike, and please just come out," March said.
Mayor (name recorded with variant spellings in the transcript) closed the presentation by announcing a ribbon-cutting at Red Mountain Park for new restroom facilities on Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m. The council did not take any formal action on the presentation; the appearance served as an informational update and community invitation.
The presentation highlighted intergovernmental cooperation on regional open-space maintenance, ongoing design work to expand trail connections, and a near-term public event. Council and staff members also noted that many Homewood residents are active supporters and users of Red Mountain Park.
