How-To Book

Blue Print for Greenways in the Heart of Alabama

Building Communities 2009-2011
Strategic Plan for Implementation of the Five Mile Creek Trail Location Study

Executive Summary:
The Building Communities Program through Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham contracted writing of a strategic plan for implementation of a trail plan in central Alabama. The document was written to respond to the need for connected trails for transportation and recreation for community health and development.

The strategic plan is modeled after the PATH Foundation of Atlanta, a very successful 501c3 that implements trail location plans in Atlanta and surrounding counties. The plan will include detailed mapping of potential routes and assets for the Five Mile Creek area, and the implementation model. Essentially the document will be a reference book on how to implement regional trail plans in Alabama.

The Health Action Partnership, led by the Jefferson County Department of Health and with the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, will receive more than $13 million over the next two years to address obesity and tobacco use in our community. Local organizations including RPCGB will work with the Department of Health to use $6.3 million to implement policy and systems changes to improve nutrition and physical activity. The Freshwater Land Trust will develop a greenway master plan for Jefferson County and build support among municipalities and citizens for a identification of a network of trails and pathways that connect key assets.

This “How To” manual (Strategic Plan for Implementation of the Five Mile Creek Trail Location Study) will serve as the implementation strategy for the greenway master plan using the Five Mile Creek Greenway as a model.