Right in the heart of Birmingham, 19 acres of lush green space pay tribute to the city’s rich industrial and artistic legacy.
This vibrant space recently earned a spot on USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards as one of the Best City Parks in the country.
What beloved spot, often called Birmingham’s “front lawn”, caught the nation’s eye?
What is USA TODAY 10BEST?
The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards highlight the very best in travel, food + drink, and lifestyle.
USA TODAY’s 10BEST invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories.
10BEST editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for a period of four weeks.
The best park in Alabama according to USA Today
Railroad Park, located along 1st Avenue between 14th and 18th Street, is the result of a collaborative effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation.
Designed as a vibrant community hub, the park offers space for recreation, family gatherings, concerts and more.
Highlights of the park include two modern playgrounds featuring state-of-the-art equipment and a climbing dome, outdoor gym stations, and scenic walking trails ranging from 1/3 mile to 3/4 mile. The beautifully landscaped grounds, often chosen for weddings, also feature a serene lake surrounded by wetlands, ponds and meandering streams.
The park is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
USA Today 10BEST City Parks in the U.S.
Bonnet Springs Lake Park (Lakeland, Fla.)
Gathering Place (Tulsa, Okla.)
Forest Park (St. Louis, Mo.)
Lake Eola Park (Orlando, Fla.)
Centennial Park (Nashville, Tenn.)
Discovery Green Park (Houston, Texas)
Klyde Warren Park (Dallas, Texas)
Railroad Park (Birmingham, Alabama)
Falls Park on the Reedy (Greenville, S.C.)
Dorothea Dix Park (Raleigh, N.C.)
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama city park named one of the best in America. Here’s where, why