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The extension of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Trail is complete!
Back in February 2012, with the leadership of Freshwater Land Trust and support through the Health Action Partnership, our countywide greenway master plan (the Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System) was completed. Implementation of this plan got a major boost when the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $10 million to the City of Birmingham to develop 29 miles of trails, bolstered by $5 million in matching funds from a partnership of local supporters. Now the first segment of the trail has been completed. On Saturday 3/8/14 at Smithfield Library, the City of Birmingham will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the extension of the Civil ... continue reading »
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Community Matters Health Survey – Your Opinion Matters!
The Community Matters 20/20 Themes and Strengths online survey is live and accepting community response. The survey can be accessed at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Community_Matters We are asking those who live, work, study or play in Jefferson County to complete the survey. The information you provide will assist the local public health system in identifying strategic priorities to focus efforts to improve community health in the coming years. All responses are anonymous and cannot be tracked to an individual. Thank you! Health Action Partnership Team continue reading »
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Place Matters Health Equity Report Presented at Health Action Partnership Annual Meeting
One of the highlights of the Health Action Partnership Annual Meeting on October 31st was a presentation by Dr. Monica Baskin of UAB’s Division of Preventive Medicine and the Jefferson County Place Matters team on the recently released report “Place Matters for Health in Jefferson County, Alabama”. Dr. Baskin addressed critical health equity issues in our community, the history that shaped them, and present-day challenges and opportunities around building a more equitable Jefferson County together. We are excited for the opportunity for the Health Action Partnership to work with the Jefferson County Place Matters Team ... continue reading »
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National award shows off best of Railroad Park
Congratulations to Birmingham’s Railroad Park, honored in October with the national Open Space Award from the Urban Land Institute. The award, which comes with a $10,000 cash prize, is designed to highlight public open spaces that spur what ULI describes as regeneration and transformation in the surrounding community. That’s a great way to say exactly what Railroad Park has done in its two years of existence. What was once 19 acres of wasted space along the railroad tracks in Birmingham’s city center has become a gathering place for people to walk, run, play games or picnic. The surrounding area also has been transformed, with a new baseball ... continue reading »
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Five smoke-free cities and why this matters
Since 2011, five cities in Jefferson County have advanced comprehensive protections against secondhand smoke exposure in all worksites, restaurants and bars. That covers 43 percent of the county and the largest city in the state — Birmingham (212,000 people), Midfield (5,365), Vestavia Hills (34,033), Fultondale (8,380) and Bessemer (27,456). At an event to celebrate this achievement, Birmingham City Council member Johnathan Austin explained why this matters to him: “As chairman of the public safety, my number one charge is for the health and safety of all the citizens of Birmingham. Looking at something as comprehensive as this w ... continue reading »
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What Is a Greenway?
You’ve probably heard the term “greenway” used a lot recently. Simply put, a greenway is open space set aside to connect people and places. Most greenways contain paved or unpaved walking and biking trails, which help improve a community’s activity levels and connect people to the places they need to go. Greenways can also help reduce flooding in floodplain areas, raise property values and provide natural habitats for plants and wildlife. In short, greenways are important to our community’s overall quality of life. In Birmingham, a good example of a greenway is Lakeshore Trail. Meandering alongside Shades Creek, this greenway offers walkers, ... continue reading »