Vestavia Hills City Council to Discuss $20,000 Grant for Altadena Valley Park Enhancements

Vestavia Hills City Council to Consider New Grant for Altadena Valley Park Improvements

VESTAVIA HILLS, ALABAMA — The Vestavia Hills City Council is set to discuss the acceptance of a grant from Jefferson County on Monday night during their regular meeting. The grant, totaling $20,000, would be used for the development of playground and exercise equipment at Altadena Valley Park, which is increasingly becoming a go-to spot for local outdoor activities.

This funding comes from Commissioner Mike Bolin’s discretionary fund and represents just over 25% of the projected $75,000 cost for the entire project. In addition to Bolin’s contribution, other significant funding has been secured: $15,000 from Innovate Alabama and $10,000 from state Representative Mike Shaw’s legislative discretionary fund. The remaining $30,000 necessary for the project will come from Vestavia Hills’ fiscal 2025 general fund budget.

Commitment to Outdoor Recreation

City Manager Jeff Downes shared that the City Council has made it a priority to enhance Altadena Valley Park. “This is a commitment from our City Council and our park board that Altadena Valley Park is going to meet the demands of our residents for outdoor recreation without a bunch of athletic contests and without a bunch of demand for infrastructure,” said Downes. The approach will allow for a transition into what will be termed a premier “passive” nature park, aimed at encouraging community engagement with the natural environment.

Downes emphasized that the new amenities will be integrated into the park without establishing formalized programming. “When you have a nature park, you want to have a few amenities there to serve the people,” he added.

Improvements Already Underway

Over the past few years, additional enhancements have already been made to the park, including improvements to the trail system and a collaborative effort with Shelby County to construct a new pavilion and restrooms. Although the park does experience some flooding issues, Downes reassured residents that it remains “a beautiful natural area that our residents can utilize and engage with.”

Economic Development Initiative

In other matters scheduled for discussion, the City Council will review an economic development agreement that could see the vacant Sprouts market at 1031 Montgomery Highway transformed into a new Picklr location, a popular chain of indoor pickleball courts. If the council approves the agreement, it will include financial incentives totaling $300,000, along with a tax rebate for the next ten years amounting to 50% of sales and non-educational property taxes collected from the development, capped at $1.4 million.

The move aims to stimulate economic growth within the city and support local job creation. The planned Picklr facility is expected to include 10 indoor pickleball courts, a pro shop, a private event area, and locker rooms, making it a significant addition to the Vestavia Hills recreational scene.

City Council Meeting Details

Monday’s City Council meeting is also packed with additional agenda items, including nearly 20 annexation and rezoning requests and a resolution for adopting an electronic vote counting system provided by Jefferson County. Residents interested in these developments are encouraged to attend.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Vestavia Hills City Hall. This is a great opportunity for community members to stay informed about local governance and engage in discussions about the future of their city’s parks and recreational facilities.