Railroad Park Named Best Park In Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The accolades nationally for Birmingham have come in frequently over the last decade, as the city has revamped its downtown area, built a new baseball park, helped cultivate a critically acclaimed music community and has become home to one the country's best culinary scenes. Add to that list Money Magazine naming Railroad Park as the best park to visit in Alabama.

The publication named the best park in each state, and listed Railroad Park as Alabama's best, citing it as "Birmingham's front lawn."

Railroad Park, developed in 2010 on what was once empty property owned by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, stretches from 14th Street to 18th Street along First Avenue South, and the opening of the 19-acre park is what many believe sparked the rapid revival of the downtown area.

After Railroad Park came the construction of Regions Field across the street and a bevy of new restaurants, apartment buildings and offices. Real estate in the area has been a hot commodity in recent years, and much of that boom can be credited to the park itself.

"We are honored and thrilled to be named the Best Park in Alabama by Time Money," said Camille Spratling, Executive Director for Railroad Park Foundation. "Railroad Park is truly Birmingham's front lawn. We are grateful to partner with the City of Birmingham to provide a free, international award-winning attraction to Birmingham's residents and visitors. We love bringing the community together through hundreds of Railroad park events, like 'Get Healthy on the Railroad presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama,' through which we are able to provide free exercise classes, free cooking classes and other wellness programming to all."

Spratling added, We're proud to be an economic driver, event venue, community-builder, and most importantly a park that means a great deal to people across our great city."

Photo by Michael Seale/Patch