The Fultondale Children's Park is a great spot for families! The large grounds features a fenced in…read moreplayground and pavilion area as well as a grassy area with swings and statues of animals. Restrooms and additional picnic tables are available as well, but make sure you have a permit before having a party at the tables (call 205-281-7950 for permits) and note you are NOT allowed to have birthday parties under the pavilion per city ordinances. The Children's Park is located across the parking lot from the Fultondale Bark Park and you can also reach the Rails to Trails, 3.4 mile, running path from the park (note, it's a 3 mile trail if you start from The Children's Park and run left, take the path on the right and you're .4 miles from Black Creek Park). If you're looking to lengthen your run, the park itself has a gravel trail that runs the perimeters. If you take the path surrounding the park, you'll also meet up with Black Creek, there are a handful of benches to lounge on as your enjoy the sound of running water. This park has plenty of open spaces if you're looking to run around, lots of trees and plenty of parking. Two things to note: the front gate of the playground is regularly broken, so much so that it will not open enough to get a stroller or wheel chair through. There are two side gates you can use. Also, the park shoulders Stouts Road, which can have very high traffic, and only has a farm fence stopping children from running into the street. Definitely use caution if you have wandering little ones. Otherwise, look for the statues of the giraffe, fish, elephant, hippo and more and have a great time!

Great place ! The trail was confusing and got lost. I follow the trail and end up on a dead in…read more Other than that love the statues!

First time visiting this park. We were having dinner at Rojo and I noticed the park across the…read morestreet, so we decided to to go over and walk off our food. Great parking and a perfect venue for a concert in the park or a festival. The park's cobbled path need some work for strollers or disabled people to travel easily. There is a community garden as well as park benches. The tree lined park is comfortable for hot Summer days and picnic dates in the park. I really like this park for a soccer game, kickball or tossing a frisbee. Fenced in playgrounds, filled with sawdust or tree shavings are great for smaller kids. No worries for the children falling of the swings or other playground equipment. I would visit this park more often if I lived in the area.

One of the best little parks in Birmingham. Locals walking around, proximity to O'Henry's Coffee…read moreshop and Rojo. The park itself is like a bowl, so you're below the sidewalk that encircles it. This creates a little microclimate which is cooler on hot Alabama days. Lots of people set up hammocks here, slacklines, and picnic blankets. There's a few benches and picnic tables, too. There's also a little half-court basketball net! I've been meaning to get a ball so I can run some pick-up H.O.R.S.E. My pup and I hang out here often, there's a group of us little small dog owners that often take up one of the "no pets allowed," fenced-in playgrounds to let the dogs run around. I hope we aren't bothering you, human-parents. Rushton also has a community garden run by the Highland Park neighborhood association. It's in full swing now. No picking others' veggies, though! You can enter to get a box through a lottery system by the HOA. They select different people each year.

Quaint little place for a small book signing and bday party. Ample parking, children playgrounds …read more Access right off the street. Beware of GPS. It tells you that you are there early but you will see it coming up. Nice floor for dancing. Nice kitchen area

I have visited this park quite a few times. Most recently, I came here to take in the beautiful day…read moreto enjoy a nice walk. Decent walking accessible trail but not that big. There is a water park on site as well as a playground for kids. The city's senior center is also located here. The fresh water flowing is very calming and adds to the experience.

W.C. Patton Park a decent size park surrounding the lake. The park definitely needs some cleaning…read moreup and replacing a few of the signs. However, All In all, it wasn't a bad part. It was pretty isolated when I was here and I didn't see anyone else in the park. I did see a few dogs running wild, even though there was a sign saying no dogs allowed in park. I also did not see a owner in sight.

We stopped here to eat breakfast from a nearby restaurant that doesn't offer inside dining. I…read moreremember when this park was built, roughly 20 some years ago. It's not that old. However, you would not be able to tell its age looking at the equipment and seats that haven't been kept up over time. The grass was also overgrown, which was disappointing to see. None of this the fault of the park itself; it's on the Park and Rec Board. I wish the residents of the area or even those that frequent the park would be more vocal about the upkeep. Maybe things would change for the better. It's still a nice area to see wildlife and to get a walk in.

Next to a golf course and a railroad, the Ross Bridge Historical Park has an easy hiking/biking…read moretrail and a small creek covered by native plants. I visit this park once in a while to walk my dog or take photos of passing freight trains. There is limited parking space at the entrance, which deserves some attention.

This is a nice trail at Ross Bridge. You can park next to the road. Trail is paved for part of the…read moreway, then it's gravel, then grass. Well shaded, this is a good place to go for a walk with or without dogs. Very pretty. There are bridges and a stream runs in the middle. There's a little wooden train and a small play area for little ones. Quiet and peaceful except for when the train goes by. We like walking our dogs here.

I did a thing, I did a thing! Are you looking for some local beauty while getting some steps?…read morePlease go visit the Moss Rock Preserve. First, getting to the Preserve is relatively easy. It's located within a community, which eases the mind when you solo trek. The trails are laid out nicely with clear paths. The natural stepping paths are quite easy to maneuver for beginners like me. The beauty of the rocks and boulders are amazing. Bring your kids to see all the natural beauty of the caverns and waterfalls. I love this place! Alabama is such a beautiful place. Take the time to experience this natural beauty in your own backyard. Yes, it is a true workout. Skip the gym and come outside. We outside, we outside!

Moss Rock Preserve offers beautiful walking trails, streams, waterfalls, and giant rock formations…read more It provides a great outdoor experience within minutes of downtown Hoover. We've had a great time hiking here, and it's pet friendly so our fur-babies have been able to enjoy the trails with us too. If you love the outdoors, Moss Rock Preserve is a must-visit.

I visited Oak Mountain State Park as part of the Mammoth March Hike, fully aware it was going to be…read morea major undertaking--but it still managed to shock me. The steep climbs up and down the mountain were incredibly challenging. At one point, I even slipped and slid down part of the trail but thankfully managed to do so gracefully without hurting myself. Being from Florida, I was definitely not accustomed to the elevation gain I was about to face. There were plenty of moments throughout the hike where I questioned why I signed up for this challenge, but pushing through and ultimately finishing made it all worth it. Having the bragging rights to say I conquered this terrain feels incredibly rewarding. That day, I didn't notice much floral life, and most of the critters seemed to be hiding--likely due to the large number of people participating in the hike. That said, I was still lucky enough to spot a rattlesnake and a black racer, which made the experience even more memorable. There were a few noteworthy areas worth stopping for, including an open area near a dam‑like structure and several peaceful river and creek spots along the route. While the park is absolutely massive and I know there was so much left unexplored, the 23 miles I trekked over 9 hours was more than enough for one day. If I find myself back in the area, I might just dare to return and explore some of the parts of the park I didn't get to see. Truly a beautiful park and an incredible asset for those who live nearby and get to enjoy it regularly.

I absolutely love going out to Oak Mountain. I have been several times with my sister and on my…read moreown. There's plenty to keep you busy no matter your interest or the season. I personally love going for a hike and bringing my pup along. Plus, there's so many great spots to stop and enjoy a picnic My husband and I plan to come and visit the golf course soon. As well as pack our bows to practice at the archery course.

You remember those field trips as a kid? How every trip was the best because you simply got out of…read moreclass for a time and got to make memories with your classmates in a new place? That's the nostalgia here. It's apparent that this park is older, but we loved the character and charm it brought. There were many older signs, even older walkways not in use, but the scenery and birdwatching was beautiful. The kids stations dotting the trail, of times past, were fun to look at and even interact with. The creek was clean and had a trash filtering system in place. The trail was clean as well and mostly gravel/rock. Our favorite part was the creek's dam and manmade falls from it, and just when we are about to turn around we found it. Note that this is not a loop trail, but in and back out. We covered about 2/3 of it before turning around (sorry, it was Sunday off the cuff and we had dress shoes, did not pack our hiking shoes/boots). Only one mile, so 2 miles roundtrip! Flat and easy.

1 star as always for the employees . 4 stars because it is my favorite park.. They could do more…read morethough .. new signage , fix the benches, more bathrooms (yeah I know they will eventually) But it will not b any time soon . The way they haven't did anything to the stage for 2 months now. They haven't even started ..So now This is what you see while they are putting in the stage lol. Whenever they start lol. Don't get in a hurry okay . That will be used realistically in how many months of the year? We were told only the gravel road would b closed but this is what you see now. So ridiculous! You guys are absurd!! You are going overboard with the fencing and I was appalled. Alabaster do better!!!!!!!!