Red Mountain Park facts for kids

Red Mountain Park is a huge public park in Birmingham, Alabama. It covers 1,500 acres and includes a long part of Red Mountain. This mountain is a big ridge that goes through the city. The park is full of woods and has old mines and other cool things from when Birmingham was a big industrial city.

The Park's Story

From Mines to Park

The land where Red Mountain Park is now used to belong to a company called U.S. Steel. They used the land for mining iron ore. The very last mine on this land closed down in 1971.

People started planning for a park on this land around 2004. In 2005, a group called the Freshwater Land Trust began a project to raise money. They wanted to buy the land and turn it into a park. Another group, the Friends of Red Mountain Park, was also formed to help. The park started with about 1,200 acres.

Building the Park

In 2006, the Alabama Legislature decided that this new park project would be part of Alabama's state park system. They created a special group called the Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Commission. This group was put in charge of owning, protecting, and developing the park. In 2007, this commission became a state agency. This meant they had full control over planning and building the park. The park's main plan even won an award in 2012!

Red Mountain Park officially opened to the public in 2012. By 2016, the park had grown even bigger, from 1,200 to 1,500 acres. It also added exciting new things for visitors to enjoy.

Park Visitors and Helpers

In 2015, the park staff counted how many people visited. They estimated that about 11,000 people came to the park each month!

Also in 2015, the park started using a special team of helpers: goats! These goats help to eat and clear out unwanted plants like kudzu. This helps keep the park healthy and beautiful.

What You Can Do at the Park

Red Mountain Park has lots of fun activities for everyone. You can go on exciting ziplines that let you fly through the air. There are also "adventure courses" high up in the trees. These courses challenge you to climb and balance among the treetops. If you have a dog, there's a big 6-acre area where dogs can run and play off-leash.