Tuscaloosa profiled in USA Triathlon magazine

From the article “Birmingham’s Railroad Park to open in September” by Thomas Spencer in The Birmingham News:

Downtown Birmingham’s new $25 million Railroad Park will open to the public Sept. 18, after decades of dreaming and a year and a half spent transforming a vacant, weedy lot into a rolling landscape of flowers and trees, lakes, streams and green lawns.  Envisioned as a green magnet to draw those who live and work downtown and at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the project aims to create an outdoor “living room for the city.” “This is a 20-year dream for the city of Birmingham,” said Mayor William Bell. “It makes a statement that we are a city of the 21st century. We are giving homage to the past and celebrating our future.” Originally a flat four-block wasteland bounded by the railroad corridor and First Avenue South, the park’s terrain now rises and falls like the region’s hills and valleys. The contours form a grassy natural amphitheater at the southeast corner, and its northern hillside brings walkers and bikers up to the level of the railroad corridor. The active downtown rail line provides a backdrop of motion, hearkening back to the city’s founding at the junction of railroads. A view of the city skyline rises to the north. UAB bustles to the south, and beyond Vulcan is visible atop Red Mountain.

Katherine Estes Billmeier is the executive director for the Railroad Park Foundation, the private nonprofit group that spearheaded the park’s development and will operate it. The Foundation will provide programming like concerts, festivals and movies at the park, but the key to the park’s success will be people coming out to use it. “The park is a total game-changer for downtown Birmingham,” she said. “It is not like we are a bunch of concrete and buildings anymore. It is a green oasis in the middle of the city.” As heavy machinery continues to rumble through the site, the last of the park’s 600 trees are being planted. Most of the bare earth has been covered in green sod or planted with native wildflowers. Water now fills the main two-acre lake and moves through creeks and wetlands throughout the park. The terrain captures rain water, and the water features are supplemented with water from two on-site wells. The water is naturally cleansed in the wetlands and is reused for irrigation. A brick promenade, shaded with Princeton elm trees, lines First Avenue South. Powell Avenue bisects the width of the park, and a brick plaza at 17th Street South forms a central gathering place.
Billmeier said the linear shape and features of the park connect it to the urban grid, while the wandering creeks and curving paths for bicyclists and walkers and the sculpted terrain create a softer, inviting natural feel. On the plaza, two soaring wood and metal sheds cast shade over four rectangular wood-paneled buildings, which are meant to evoke boxcars. The buildings will house park offices, bathrooms, a storage building and a food vendor. B&A Warehouse, the catering business that operates an indoor event space across First Avenue South from the park, won the contract to operate the food concession area and will be open weekdays during lunch hours. Cheryl Morgan, the director of Auburn University College of Architecture’s Urban Studio, said Railroad Park marks a milestone in the transformation of the city, giving renewed energy to the development of downtown living, commerce and recreation. Planners and city leaders hope the park will spur private development at the edges of the park. “When you look at developing vibrant and active urban centers and downtowns, what you see are these kinds of great parks and open space,” Morgan said. “Those parks are the kind of places we come together as a community.” Long-term, both the city and the Foundation hope to see the park in one form or another extend all the way to Sloss Furnaces in the west, creating a ribbon of green along the rail corridor. Bell, who was first elected to the City Council in 1979, recalled being on a committee that discussed building a small museum space on the site where people could learn about the railroad and watch cars being repaired. “No one envisioned the spectacular park that we will be unveiling shortly,” he said.

For the complete article please see http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/08/birminghams_railroad_park_to_o.html

Tuscaloosa profiled in USA Triathlon magazine
From the article “On the Road in Tuscaloosa” in USA Triathlon magazine:

While Tuscaloosa is most know for the University of Alabama and legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, the southern city also has hosted a number of USA Triathlon National Championships in recent years. The USAT Age Group National Championship returns to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 25-26, so let “On the Road” be your guide to this quintessential college town. There is no better way to tour a college campus than to go on a late night run. The University of Alabama is a beautiful campus with a myriad of Southern-styled buildings and athletic complexes that hold historical significance in every NCAA sport. The campus is a great place to train as it is pedestrian (and cyclist) friendly with the property backing up to the Black Warrior River.

Best Places to Fuel- Newk’s Café located on UA’s campus offers everything from California style pizza to oven-baked sandwiches and fresh salads and desserts. Chuck’s Fish is great place to relax after a long workout. City Café in Northport has the best Southern cooking in Tuscaloosa. Waysider has the best breakfast in Tuscaloosa and Northport. Mellow Mushroom’s pizza and Mugshots’ burgers are two of the best dishes in town. Go to Dreamland and you get ribs, white bread, sweet tea and a roll of paper towels. Fig is a good bet if you’re looking for healthy and yummy.

You might bump into- 2010 BCS Championship football team- Roll Tide! Other big name football types around Tuscaloosa include Alabama coach Nick Saban and Broadway Joe Namath, who played for Bear Bryant and led the Crimson Tide to a national title in 1964 before turning pro. Several professional athletes train in Tuscaloosa before reporting to camp to begin the season (baseball, softball and football). Actress Sela Ward was a UA cheerleader and homecoming queen- she often comes back to visit. Country crooner Kenny Chesney who is pals with Saban, comes to town frequently.

For more information on Tuscaloosa please see www.visittuscaloosa.com.

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Posted: August 14th, 2010 under Bed and Breakfast News.

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