Parks and Greenways in Huntsville

An extensive collection of parks and greenways exists in Huntsville, Alabama for the public's recreational use.

Big Spring Park in Downtown

Parks

Parks within Huntsville city limits

The city of Huntsville currently has 57 parks which cover over 3,000 acres of land.[1][2]

Park Name	Location	Address	Acreage	Playground	Walking Trails	Number of Fields and Courts						Notes
						Soccer	Football	Baseball	Softball	Basketball	Tennis
Archer Park	Southwest	3315 Archer Dr	3.62	Yes	No	1			2
Beirne Ave Park	Northeast	330 Beirne Av	1.68	Yes	No					1	2	Located across the Street from Goldsmith Schiffman Field
Bell Mountain Park	Southwest	2560 Redstone Rd	30.05	Yes	No	1	1	2	2
Bicentennial Park	Downtown	315 Fountain Cir	0.30	No	No							Passive Greenspace
Big Spring Park	Downtown	200 Church St	17.96	No	Yes							Passive Greenspace
Brahan Spring	Southwest	500 Drake Av	169.92	Yes	No	3	1	5	5			6 outdoor volleyball fields and 2 playgrounds
Buchanan Park	Southwest	10044 Fielding Dr	3.97	Yes	No	1				1	2
California Street Park	Southeast	708 California St	2.00	Yes	No					1	2
Cavalry Hills Park	Northwest	2800 Poplar Av	6.91	Yes	No	2	1	2
Chelsea Park	Southwest	2851 Chelsea Ln	3.50	Yes	No				1	1
Cove Park	Southeast	834 Old Highway 431	98.04	Yes	No	1		2	2
Creekwood Park	Northwest	360A Harvestwood Ct	71.88	Yes	Yes							Disc Golf Course, Passive Greenspace, Dog Park, connects to Indian Creek Greenway
Downtown Dog Spot	Downtown	200 Cleveland Av	1.50	Yes	No							Passive Greenspace, Dog Park
Dr. Richard Showers, Sr. Park	Northwest	4600 Blue Spring Rd	17.70	Yes	Yes			1	1			Outdoor Exercise facility
Fern Bell / Fern Gulley Park	Southwest	6900 Whitesburg Dr	14.20	Yes	No	3		4	3			2 multipurpose fields
Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary	Southeast	Taylor & Terry Drake	375.7	No	Yes							Passive Greenspace
Halsey Park	Southeast	435 White St	0.2	No	No							Passive Greenspace
Hastings Park	Southwest	2801 Hastings Rd	0.34	Yes	No
Hays Nature Preserve	Southeast	7153 Hwy 431 S	552.35	No	Yes							Passive Greenspace, connects to Big Cove Creek Greenway and Flint River Greenway
Hermitage Park	Southeast	915 Kennamer Dr	4.11	Yes	No						1
Hillendale Park	Northwest	2811 Holmes Av	0.39	Yes	No
Holmes Avenue Park	Northwest	Holmes Av	2.9	Yes	No				1	1
James C. Crawford Park	Northeast	3915 Melody Rd	8.33	Yes	No				1	1		formerly Edmonton Heights Park
John Hunt Park	Southwest	2151 Airport Rd	428.01	Yes	Yes	21		2	2			Outdoor Exercise facility and a multipurpose field
Jones Family Park	Southeast		33	No	Yes							Passive Greenway, will be part of the future Aldridge Creek greenway expansion
Ken Johnston Park	Southeast	1100 Mt. Gap Rd	18.36	Yes	No							Outdoor Exercise facility, Trail head for Aldridge Creek greenway
Kent Roberson Park	Southwest	7620 Logan Dr	13.68	Yes	No	2			2		2	Also known as "Logan Park"
Kids' Space	Southwest	2010 Airport Rd	0	Yes	No							Located within John Hunt Park
Kiwanis Soccer Park	Southwest	4201 Bob Wallace Av	6.39	No	No	1
Knox Creek Park	Northwest	180 Greenbank Dr	26.76	Yes	No					1
Lakewood Park	Northwest	2225 York Rd	32.45	Yes	No			2	3			1 multipurpose field
Lewter Park	Northeast	1501 Wellman Av	0.52	Yes	No							formerly Wellman Park
Maple Hill Park	Southeast	1351 Mcclung Av	8.64	Yes	No							Also known as "Dead Children's Playground," 1 multipurpose field
Maplewood Park	Northwest	4943 N Mem Pkwy	9.5	Yes	No				1
Mastin Lake Park	Northwest	3315 Watson Dr	31.73	Yes	No	1		2			2
Mayfield Park	Southwest	550 Thornton Av	8.88	Yes	No			2	2
McGucken Park	Southeast	13020 Bailey Cove Rd	37.1	Yes	Yes	2	1	2	3		2	accesses Aldridge Creek Greenway
Meadow Hill Park	Northwest	Medaris Rd	1.06	Yes	No	1			1
Merrimack Park	Southwest	3501 Triana Blvd	46.8	Yes	No	10						Also known as "Huntsville Park"
Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex	Southwest	3590 Patton Rd	64.92	Yes	No				6
Oak Park	Northeast	2250 Oakwood Av	9.2	Yes	No			2	2
Oakmont Park	Northwest	2224 Euclid Rd	3.72	Yes	No
Ogden Park	Southwest	5251 Triana Blvd		No	No				1			1 multipurpose field
Optimist Park	Northeast	703 Oakwood Av	8.5	Yes	No			1				Playground good size for toddlers, small equipment
Philpot Park	Northeast	1211 Philpot Av	4	Yes	No						2	Also known as "Chapman Park"
Pine Park	Southwest	3951 Pine Av	2.34	Yes	No
Robert E. Lee Cramer Jr. Park	Southeast	600 Meridian St	2.8	Yes	No							A part of "Gateway Greenway"
Sandhurst Park	Southwest	2928 Green Cove Rd	17.1	Yes	No	1		2
Scenic Overlook	Southeast	2251 Governors Dr	4.5	No	No							Passive Greenspace
Scenic View Park	Northwest	2705 Scenic View Dr	5.1	Yes	No				1
Sherwood Park	Northwest	325 Town and Country Dr	5	Yes	Yes	1			1			Also known as "Forest Park"
Skatepark	Downtown	200 Cleveland Av	0.66	No	No
Stoner Park	Northwest	3715 Bragg St	67.62	Yes	No	1	1	6	4		2
University Park	Northwest	4419 Saundralane Dr	10.74	Yes	No			1	4			A part of UAH
Veteran's Park	Downtown	200 Monroe St	2.64	No	No							formerly Gateway Park, accesses Gateway Greenway, Passive Greenspace
Willow Park	Southeast	1928 Aftonbrae Dr	9.34	Yes	Yes				2		2	1 multipurpose field
Windsor Manor Park	Northwest	6500 Pisgah Dr	7.99		No				1	1	2

Proposed parks

• Capshaw Road Park
• Zierdt Road Park

Current greenways

As of 2017, there are 9 greenways with 73 miles (117 km) of trail.

Aldridge Creek Greenway

Aldridge Creek Greenway is a 103.55-acre greenway[3] consisting of a 4.25-mile-long (6.84 km) walking and biking trail in South Huntsville that runs along Aldridge Creek connecting Ken Johnston Park to Ditto Landing and the Tennessee River. The greenway runs north along Aldridge Creek from the main trailhead for 1.25 miles to the sidewalk on the west side of Bailey Cove Road just north of Country Lane Drive and south to the entrance of Ditto Landing, about 3.5 miles. The address of the park is 1100 Mountain Gap Road at Ken Johnston Park just west of Bailey Cove Road. Parking is also available on the south end of the greenway at Ditto Landing and additional parking is located behind Challenger School on Chaney Thompson Road.

The city had planned to continue the greenway north to connect to Atwood Linear Park Greenway. However, Valley Hill Country Club will not allow the city to expand the greenway through their golf course. The city has plans to construct future segments of the greenway from the current north terminus to the east end of Esslinger Road.

Atwood Linear Park Greenway

Atwood Linear Park Greenway is a 0.9-mile-long (1.4 km) trail[4] that connects Jones Family Park to the Valley Hill Country Club. The trail is a multi-use walking and biking trail that runs along Atwood Drive in the Jones Valley area of Southeast Huntsville. Parking is available at Jones Family Park on the north side of Four Mile Post Road.

Big Cove Creek Greenway

Big Cove Creek Greenway is a 53-acre greenway in southeast Huntsville's Hampton Cove subdivision that runs along Big Cove Creek north to just south of Caldwell Lane. There is a multipurpose walking and biking trail that is 2.86 miles (4.60 km) long[5] that connects the Flint River greenway to the Hampton Cove community. The city of Huntsville plans to extend the greenway north to Monte Sano Mountain and connect it to the existing Arrowhead trail.

Flint River Greenway

The Flint River Greenway is one of the newest greenways in the city of Huntsville. It is located in southeast Huntsville in the Hampton Cove subdivision. Currently, there is a 1.87-mile-long (3.01 km) walking and biking trail[6] connecting Old US 431 to the Big Cove Creek Greenway in the Hays Nature Preserve where parking is available. The city of Huntsville plans to extend the greenway south along the Flint River to eventually connect to the Tennessee River greenway.

When completed, the greenway will be 36.0 miles (57.9 km) long and contain canoe launch sites spaced throughout the length of the greenway.

Gateway Greenway

Gateway Greenway is a 0.6 miles (0.97 km) long trail that connects Veterans Park to Pratt Avenue[7] in downtown Huntsville. Parking is available along Meridian Street.

Indian Creek Greenway

Indian Creek Greenway
Type	Public Greenway
Location	Huntsville, Alabama
Area	61.68 acres (0.10 sq mi)

Indian Creek Greenway is a series of greenways that make up 3.77 miles (6.07 km) of walking and biking trails in West Huntsville.[8] The north section of the greenway is located in the Providence subdivision off of University Drive. The larger, south section of the greenway, which is 2.95 miles (4.75 km) long, runs from Creekwood Park to Old Madison Pike just west of Cummings Research Park. Parking is available at the trail heads at Creekwood Park and off Old Madison Pike east of Slaughter Road.

Little Cove Road Greenway

Little Cove Road Greenway is made up of a 5.04 miles (8.11 km) long trail[9] that connects Big Cove Creek Greenway north to the Flint River in Southeast Huntsville. The greenway travels along Little Cove Road/Eastern Bypass/Old Hwy 431.

Tennessee River Greenway

The Tennessee River Greenway connects to the Aldridge Creek Greenway at Ditto Landing in South Huntsville and adds an additional 0.93 miles (1.50 km) of walking and biking trail that runs along the Tennessee River.[10] This greenway connects Ditto Landing to the Madison County Marina. Parking is available at Ditto Landing. The City of Huntsville plans to extend the greenway south along the river and will end at the Flint River, where it will eventually connect to the Flint River greenway.

Wade Mountain Greenway

In North Huntsville lies nearly 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of greenway known as Wade Mountain Greenway with 1 mile (1.6 km) of a paved trail and 4.375 miles (7.041 km) is an unpaved hiking trail.

Proposed greenways

• Barren Fork / Miller Branch - Southwest Huntsville near Huntsville International Airport that will connect Martin Road with Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
• Betts Spring Branch Greenway - Southwest Huntsville. Along with a proposed Madison City greenway of the same name, will connect to Indian Creek Greenway and Cummings Research Park.
• Big Spring - Downtown Huntsville. This greenway will connect Big Spring Park to the Monte Sano Nature Preserve.
• Blevins Gap - Hampton Cove/Jones Valley. This greenway will connect Big Cove Greenway to Blevins Gap Nature Preserve and Baliey Cove Road running along Cecil Asburn Drive.
• Blue Spring Creek - Northwest Huntsville.
• Broglan North - Northwest Huntsville.
• Broglan South - West of Downtown Huntsville. This greenway will connect Holmes Avenue to Governors Drive.
• Chapman Mountain - Northeast Huntsville. This greenway will connect Monte Sano State Park will Alabama A&M.
• Dallas Branch - North of Downtown Huntsville.
• Dry Creek Northwest Huntsville. This greenway will connect Providence and Indian Creek Greenway with Wade Mountain.
• Huntsville Spring Branch - West Huntsville. This greenway will run north/south connecting Downtown with Ditto Landing.
• Knox Creek - West Huntsville near Athens. This greenway will run south of Capshaw Road connecting Limestone Creek with Wall Triana Highway.
• Limestone Creek - Limestone County. This greenway will run 14 miles, connecting East Limestone to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.
• McDonald Creek - Southwest Huntsville. This greenway will connect U.S. Space and Rocket Center with John Hunt Park.
• Pinhook II - North of Downtown. This greenway will run north from Big Spring Park to Sparkman Drive.
• Smithers Mountain - Northeast Huntsville.
• Spacewalk I - East Huntsville. This greenway will connect the Burritt Museum and Monte Sano State Park with Blevins Gap.
• Spacewalk II - East Huntsville. This greenway will connect Blevins Gap (Blevins Gap Nature Preserve) with Madison County Nature Trail.
• Spacewalk III - East Huntsville. This greenway will connect Madison County Nature Trail with Ditto Landing.
• Wallace Mountain - Southeast Huntsville. This greenway wil connect Spacewalk III with the Flint River.
• Warparth Ridge - East Huntsville. This greenway will connect Monte Sano Nature Preserve with the Flint River.
• Weatherly Mountain Greenway - South Huntsville.
• Zierdt Road - West Huntsville.

Trails

• Blevins Gap Nature Preserve offers 10.5 miles of hiking trails on 971.12 acres[11]
• Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve offers 3 miles of hiking trails with plans for 10 miles of trails
• Madison County Nature Trail, located on Green Mountain, has 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of walking trail around a large lake[12]
• Monte Sano State Park offers over 14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails[13]
• Monte Sano Nature Preserve, the green backdrop for the city of Huntsville, offers 1,107 acres and 23+ miles of public trails.
• Singing River Trail of North Alabama is a future 70-mile bicycling and walking trail that will connect Huntsville to multiple nearby cities.[14][15]

Preserves

Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary

The Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary is located in southeast Huntsville, near Hampton Cove, to the west of the Hays Nature Preserve.

Hays Nature Preserve

The Hays Nature Preserve, located in southeast Huntsville near the subdivision of Hampton Cove, is the city's largest and most undeveloped parklands.[16] The Flint River and Big Cove Creek greenways run through the nature preserve and connect with various hiking trails along the way.[17][18]

Monte Sano Nature Preserve

Located on Monte Sano Mountain, Monte Sano Nature Preserve covers 1,107 acres (448 ha) making it one of the largest urban nature preserves in the US, larger than Central Park. It includes over 25 miles (40 km) of trails for hiking and mountain biking, which connect to Monte Sano State Park and Burritt on the Mountain.[19] This Preserve is managed in partnership with the Land Trust of North Alabama.

Wade Mountain Nature Preserve

Wade Mountain Nature Preserve is a series of greenways and trails that make up 5.375 miles (8.650 km) of walking and hiking trails in North Huntsville.[20] The trails are made up of 1-mile-long (1.6 km) paved trail and 4.375 miles (7.041 km) of unpaved hiking trails that lead up Wade Mountain to the Devil's Race Track. This Preserve is managed in partnership with the Land Trust of North Alabama.

References

1. City of Huntsville Parks Department Archived 2012-06-28 at the Wayback Machine
2. City of Huntsville Parks and Gyms Guide
3. City of Huntsville - Aldridge Creek Greenway
4. City of Huntsville - Atwood Linear Park Greenway
5. City of Huntsville - Big Cove Creek Greenway
6. City of Huntsville - Flint River Greenway
7. City of Huntsville - Gateway Greenway
8. City of Huntsville - Indian Creek Greenway
9. City of Huntsville - Little Cove Road Greenway
10. City of Huntsville - Tennessee River Greenway
11. - Land Trust of North Alabama
12. Madison County Nature Trail - www.madisoncountyal.gov Archived 2012-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
13. "Monte Sano State Park - Alabama State Parks". Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
14. Singleterry, Sarah (5 February 2019). "Singing River Trail gets positive community feedback". WAAY 31. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
15. Ballard, Kimberly (31 December 2019). "Singing River Trail a Merger of Native American History and Smart Technology". Huntsville Business Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
16. Operation Green Team - Hays Nature Preserve
17. City of Huntsville - Hays Nature Preserve trails map
18. Hays Nature Preserve trails
19. "Monte Sano Nature Preserve Trail System : National Recreation Trail Database". American Trails. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
20. City of Huntsville - Wade Mountain Preserve