Parks and Greenways in Huntsville facts for kids
Huntsville, Alabama, is a city full of amazing outdoor spaces! It has many parks and greenways where you can play, walk, bike, and enjoy nature. These areas are perfect for having fun and staying active.
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Parks in Huntsville
Huntsville is home to 57 parks, covering over 3,000 acres of land. That's a lot of space to explore! These parks offer all sorts of activities, from playgrounds and walking trails to sports fields for soccer, baseball, and more.
Some of the most popular parks include:
- Big Spring Park: Located right in Downtown Huntsville, this park is famous for its beautiful spring and friendly ducks and geese. It's a peaceful spot to relax and enjoy the city.
- Brahan Spring Park: This large park has lots of space for different sports, including soccer, baseball, and even outdoor volleyball. It also has two playgrounds for younger kids.
- Creekwood Park: A great place for outdoor fun, Creekwood Park has a disc golf course, a dog park, and walking trails that connect to the Indian Creek Greenway.
- John Hunt Park: One of Huntsville's biggest parks, John Hunt Park offers many sports fields, walking trails, and even an outdoor exercise area. It's a hub for sports and fitness.
- Dr. Richard Showers, Sr. Park: This park features a playground, walking trails, and an outdoor exercise facility, making it a good spot for both play and fitness.
- Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary: This large preserve is a quiet place to enjoy nature, with walking trails and plenty of wildlife.
- Hays Nature Preserve: As Huntsville's largest nature preserve, it's a fantastic spot for hiking and connecting with nature. It also links to several greenways.
Future Parks
Huntsville is always growing, and there are plans for even more parks in the future, like the proposed Capshaw Road Park and Zierdt Road Park.
Greenways for Walking and Biking
As of 2017, Huntsville has 9 greenways with a total of 73 miles of trails. These greenways are perfect for walking, running, and biking, connecting different parts of the city and offering scenic routes through nature.
Aldridge Creek Greenway
This greenway is 4.25 miles long and is great for walking and biking in South Huntsville. It follows Aldridge Creek and connects Ken Johnston Park to Ditto Landing, which is on the Tennessee River. You can find parking at Ken Johnston Park or Ditto Landing. The city hopes to extend this greenway even further north in the future.
Atwood Linear Park Greenway
Atwood Linear Park Greenway is a 0.9-mile trail in Southeast Huntsville. It's a multi-use trail for walking and biking along Atwood Drive. You can park at Jones Family Park to access this greenway.
Big Cove Creek Greenway
Located in Southeast Huntsville's Hampton Cove area, this 2.86-mile trail runs along Big Cove Creek. It connects the Flint River Greenway to the Hampton Cove community. There are plans to extend it north towards Monte Sano Mountain.
Flint River Greenway
One of Huntsville's newer greenways, the Flint River Greenway is 1.87 miles long. It's a walking and biking trail that connects Old US 431 to the Big Cove Creek Greenway within the Hays Nature Preserve. Parking is available at the preserve. Eventually, this greenway is planned to be 36 miles long and will even have spots for launching canoes!
Gateway Greenway
This shorter trail is 0.6 miles long and connects Veterans Park to Pratt Avenue in downtown Huntsville. You can find parking along Meridian Street.
Indian Creek Greenway
Quick facts for kids Indian Creek Greenway |
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| Type | Public Greenway |
| Location | Huntsville, Alabama |
| Area | 61.68 acres (0.10 sq mi) |
The Indian Creek Greenway is a series of trails in West Huntsville, totaling 3.77 miles. The main part of the greenway is 2.95 miles long and runs from Creekwood Park to Old Madison Pike. It's a popular spot for walking and biking, with parking available at Creekwood Park.
Little Cove Road Greenway
This greenway is 5.04 miles long and connects the Big Cove Creek Greenway north to the Flint River in Southeast Huntsville. It follows along Little Cove Road and Old Highway 431.
Tennessee River Greenway
The Tennessee River Greenway is 0.93 miles long and connects to the Aldridge Creek Greenway at Ditto Landing. It runs along the Tennessee River, linking Ditto Landing to the Madison County Marina. Parking is available at Ditto Landing. There are plans to extend this greenway further south along the river.
Wade Mountain Greenway
In North Huntsville, the Wade Mountain Greenway offers nearly 5.5 miles of trails. About 1 mile is paved, and 4.375 miles are unpaved hiking trails, perfect for exploring nature.
Planned Greenways
Huntsville has many exciting plans for future greenways that will connect even more parts of the city and surrounding natural areas. These include:
- Big Spring Greenway: This future greenway will connect Big Spring Park in downtown to the Monte Sano Nature Preserve.
- Chapman Mountain Greenway: This greenway will link Monte Sano State Park to Alabama A&M.
- McDonald Creek Greenway: This planned greenway will connect the U.S. Space and Rocket Center to John Hunt Park.
- Many other greenways are planned to connect parks, preserves, and neighborhoods throughout Huntsville.
Hiking Trails
Beyond the greenways, Huntsville also has dedicated hiking trails:
- Madison County Nature Trail: Located on Green Mountain, this trail offers 1.5 miles of walking paths around a large lake.
- Monte Sano State Park: This state park has over 14 miles of hiking trails, perfect for a longer adventure in nature.
Nature Preserves
Huntsville is home to several important nature preserves that protect natural habitats and offer beautiful places to explore.
Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary is in Southeast Huntsville, near Hampton Cove. It's a peaceful area for wildlife and offers trails for visitors to enjoy.
Hays Nature Preserve
The Hays Nature Preserve is the city's largest and most natural parkland, located in Southeast Huntsville. The Flint River and Big Cove Creek greenways run through it, connecting to various hiking trails. It's a great place to see local wildlife and enjoy the outdoors.
Monte Sano Nature Preserve
Found on Monte Sano Mountain, the Monte Sano Nature Preserve covers 1,107 acres, making it one of the largest urban nature preserves in the United States. It's even bigger than Central Park! It has over 25 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and these trails connect to Monte Sano State Park and Burritt on the Mountain. The Land Trust of North Alabama helps manage this preserve.
Wade Mountain Nature Preserve
The Wade Mountain Nature Preserve in North Huntsville has 5.375 miles of walking and hiking trails. Some parts are paved, while others are unpaved trails that lead up Wade Mountain. The Land Trust of North Alabama also helps manage this preserve.
