The Underrated Local Park In Alabama Where You Can Hike A New Eco Trail
By Lisa Battles|Published December 21, 2023
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Lisa Battles
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Lisa has traveled the U.S. for over a decade, seeking out and sharing the stories of its most interesting places, people, and experiences. A journalism graduate of Auburn University, she has been a content strategist, editor, and writer for more than 25 years. Lisa has worked in community news, PR, and marketing with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and economic development. Besides following her curiosity around every corner, she's a devoted dog mom of two and advocate for animal welfare.
People of all abilities can now have a better experience at Van de Graaff Arboretum & Historic Bridge Park. In spring 2023, this underrated park in Northport, Alabama added an eco-trail to its options for walkers and hikers. The coolest part of the trail may be its interpretive signs, which are sculptural and textured. The designers intentionally crafted them to give people of all abilities tactile cues in addition to visuals to learn about the park and its natural assets. Let’s take a mini-tour, shall we?
In 2014, Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority (PARA) leased the property from a group called Friends of Historic Northport. The lease terms run for 99 years at an annual fee of $1, as long as PARA continually improves and maintains it for public use. After some preparation, the park opened to the public in 2016. Comprising 141 acres, the park contains diverse habitats including freshwater ponds, Mill Creek, and wetlands of swamps, marshes, and bogs.
There are many scenic spots to fish, camp, sit a spell, meditate, and birdwatch. With such a variety of plant and animal life, you never know what you might see.
Speaking of reptiles, you will notice signs suggesting you stay alligator-aware. These signs are bonafide. One news report a few years ago detailed how an alligator slid up to one of the pond's banks and quickly helped itself to an angler's catch of the day. So while swimming is a big nope here, you can take to the water in non-motorized boats. Some other no-nos here are hunting, fireworks, littering, and any motorized vehicles outside of parking areas.
The idea is to keep it as quiet and peaceful as possible so people can feel close to nature. The park has a handful of trails for hikers, with the latest being the aforementioned 0.4-mile Eco Trail.
Two groups worked with PARA on the new trail – the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa Morning and the University of Alabama's departments of biological sciences and art and art history. The trail has its own entryway sign and a new pedestrian bridge, and the stars are its four educational stands.
UA art and sculpture professor Craig Wedderspoon and art students created the stands. The biological sciences department staff researched and wrote each stand's educational info. There is a stand with facts about the park's birds, reptiles, insects, and fungi.
The most iconic man-made structure in the park (and part of its name) is the 1882 King Bowstring Bridge, which is the oldest surviving iron bridge in Alabama. The bridge crossed the Black Warrior River from 1882 to 1896. Relocated and preserved at this site, it carries only foot traffic over Mill Creek. People can rent the bridge by the hour for special events or photo shoots. Pups are welcome at the park as long as you clean up after them and observe all areas that require a leash.
The park's pavilion provides a nice, shady space for picnicking. There are grills, fire pits, and a horseshoe pit (bring your own). People can camp in tents or RVs. While some spaces have water hookups, there are no electric hookups or dump stations. Tent camping ranges from $10 to $25, while RV camping is from $15 to $20, depending on the dates and space.
If you choose to check out this underrated park in Northport, Alabama, do not miss the opportunity to stop in for breakfast or lunch at City Cafe. The meat-and-three has been a local staple since 1931 for good reason. For details about camping fees, visit the Van de Graaff Arboretum & Historic Bridge Park website. Also, peep AllTrails for park visitors’ reviews and trail information about another trail that’s on-site, the Van De Graaff Short Trail.
Have you visited the Van de Graaf Arboretum & Historic Bridge Park? We’d love to hear your thoughts about it, especially if you’ve experienced the new Eco Trail.
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