HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — If you ask both James Gossett, Director of Parks and Recreation for Huntsville, and City Councilman Devyn Keith, building infrastructure that brings the community together is key. "Certainly, one of the standards we use is how is the impact, the quality of life for the citizens of Huntsville," Gossett shares.
Keith says "I call it intentional investment. One, you have to have conversations with the community. Everything we've put out as a product from Johnson Legacy Center all the way to the murals that we've had are in interesting points and perspectives that have been shared by the community."
The City of Huntsville Planning commission approved two new park projects for both North and South Huntsville
Park at Hays Farm
The Park at Hays Farm will be south of Haysland Road it will be near Grissom High School. "We work with the Hays Family to help secure some space in this area for a park for that overall development," Gossett shares. "So yeah, we're first we're excited about the park. We certainly appreciate the administration, city council for the support and backing of this. We're working through the design process right now on it. It will be a lagoon style park, so it has a water and water feature in it. It'll be a place that families can come and gather will also be a place that you can retreat or relax."
As for what residents can expect. "It will be a park that will have walking sidewalks around the water and there actually will be a windmill there from the family farm, Hays Family Farm there, Gossett explains. "So, we'll have some interesting amenities there. They'll also be a place where you can have some forms of live music. We'll have a small stage there."
For now, the project is still in the early phases. "So, we'll get finished with design, you'll have to go to bid and then once, once we get a bid we'll get with the contractor and start construction. Yeah, I would expect construction to begin sometime in the summer of this year."
Stoner Park:
The Stoner Park project has a special meaning. "This is where most of us grew up," Keith shares. "Played our first baseball game and learned sports. Made our connections and friendships that last forever. I met my best friend here. "I tell people all the time, I threw my first no hitter here. there's no proof that I didn't."
After years of memories being made, some upgrades are needed. "What you're looking at is Stoner Field. now, in the next year, 8 to 12 months, you won't even recognize it. There will be almost $10 million invested in this location in the next year," Keith explains. "We're going to have in this first phase, because there will be a number of phases to this redevelopment, it's going to be a skate park. Huntsville Skate is an organization who has solicited the city as other parts of the city have seen solicitations from mountain biking groups as well as skating groups as we have skate park at john hunt and to say north Huntsville as a whole could be a mecca for those individuals on roller skates that go from, you know, we're all the time down to other areas."
Skating has cultural impact in communities of color, which councilman Keith explains is why it's one of the focal points. "There's a cultural aspect, a member of the things that people do as hobbies. I grew up on roller skates, didn't know about roller blades till I got older. My mom taught me how to use roller skates, and in the cultural aspect, a lot of people in north Huntsville grew up going to carousel, going there all the time. and that skating community has not gotten smaller over time. it's gotten older."
Residents may be surprised with the range of activities coming. "When we break ground next month, this will just be first phase one, we want to make sure whether it's a pickleball court, I for sure we'll make sure I'll be fighting for some basketball courts that the phase two that we're going to have on the field keeps the integrity of the use of some of its fields, but also adds amenities," Keith explains. "I want people to use the parks in North Huntsville, just like people in north Huntsville use the parks in south Huntsville."
Outside of the park, there is a lot that residents of North Huntsville can look forward to. "This is a unique time for North Huntsville. I can just be honest with you. I didn't know it come this fast, Keith explains. "After having to deal with covid over two years, you're going to get a new grocery store, Starbucks would be attached to that. The town hall that we're having on 17th is to discuss the bypass, which is an over $30 million infrastructure investment that will affect some of the communities out there, but also potential rezonings and a multi-use and multi mixed district that will be coming to that area as well."