East Side Park
A Universally Accessible Gateway to Nature.
Nestled in the South Roebuck Neighborhood, just off of Highway 11/I-59, lies a park on the verge of a vibrant transformation. Once a thriving gathering place and private swim club, the park became underused and overgrown as community needs changed and accessibility remained limited.
With a renewed vision and strong community momentum, East Side Park is being reimagined as a vibrant, welcoming space for all. While nature remains out of reach for too many—especially people with disabilities—this transformation offers something powerful: a universally designed park where everyone can gather, connect, and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of the outdoors. Revitalizing this once-forgotten space honors Alabama’s standing as one of the most biodiverse states in the U.S. and invites people of all ages and abilities—seniors, children, families, veterans, neighbors, and friends—into a shared experience of nature.
Nature for Everyone
Our community needs places that combine natural beauty with accessibility. Outdoor time improves people’s mental and physical health, including people with disabilities, but natural topography and design often limit outdoor communal experiences. Thanks to generous support from the American Rescue Plan Act, the City of Birmingham, and Councilor Hunter Williams, Jefferson County Greenways is leading the charge to restore East Side Park into a universally accessible nature park. Going beyond ADA requirements and offering a truly unique outdoor experience for people in our region, this pivotal project will establish a new standard for accessibility in nature. The new park will feature:
- Accessible trails that wind through native ecoregions.
- Options for various levels of challenge.
- Universally designed bathrooms that accommodate visitors of all ages and disabilities.
- Convenient, accessible parking to ensure ease of arrival for all visitors.
With your support, we envision a park that also includes:
- Spaces for nature play.
- Immersive sensory experiences to entice a nature connection.
- Educational interpretive experiences of nature and history.
As we reimagine East Side Park, we’re not just creating trails and play areas, we’re nurturing connections. Through ongoing programs like guided nature walks, family-friendly workshops, and volunteer garden days, we help people of all ages and disabilities build deeper, lasting connections with the outdoors and each other.
Connecting People to Nature
This park is more than just a greenspace, it’s an opportunity for everyone to connect with nature and enjoy a place that feels a little bit wild. Imagine a place where:
- Multi-generational families can explore the outdoors together.
- Seniors can enjoy the beauty of nature through peaceful walks with easy access and frequent points of rest.
- Children and adults with disabilities can explore and learn from the natural world alongside their community.
Whether you’re rolling a stroller, using a wheelchair or other mobility device, or simply seeking a peaceful moment in nature, East Side Park will provide a place to unwind, play, and connect in a setting rooted in native Alabama flora. (Last year, we propagated 140 native species ourselves!)
How You Can Help
We’re working to complete the universally accessible trails and facilities at East Side Park by December 2026 and are currently in the design and fundraising phase of the park’s restoration. Your support is vital in meeting this timeline and ensuring this vision comes to life.
Help us meet this exciting milestone. Together, we will create a universally designed nature space that embraces the health and wellness benefits of getting outside and celebrates the beauty of Alabama’s native landscape. Let’s make this dream for our community a reality.
- Fill out our survey. Share why East Side Park matters to you and how you or someone you know would use it.
- Share funding opportunities. Do you know of a grant or organization that could help? Please reach out with an email.
- Fill out our survey. Share why East Side Park matters to you and how you or someone you know would use it.
- Donate. Help us build accessible trails, nature play areas, and more! Your contribution will ensure East Side Park becomes a thriving, accessible nature experience.
- Sign up for our newsletter. Stay updated on the park’s progress and find out how you can support it.
- Volunteer. Join us for clean-up days, site work, and fundraising events to help us build a park that benefits everyone.
Our Amazing Partners
We are proud to work alongside these incredible organizations that are making East Side Park a reality. Their contributions and support are making a lasting impact on our community: