City Parks in Leeds
Leeds enjoys 5 beautiful parks. Details, photos, and history are
below.
CIVIC
CENTER COMPLEX
History: The James
M.
Wright Civic
Center was named in honor
of Mayor Wright who died in 1976, shortly after he was re-elected to
a second term in office.
The complex has been renovated and updated with many
additional features added since it was first constructed during
former Mayor Jack Courson’s second term in office.
Among its most
popular attractions are the gym, tennis courts, exercise room and
swimming pool. The civic center is also used by a group of senior
citizens for their meetings and activities.
An end section of the meeting hall has been renovated and set
apart for use by the Leeds City Council for their public meetings.
The Leeds Youth Sports organizations
play their Little League Baseball and Football games at the fields
located on the complex. The civic center is located at 1000
Parkway Drive. For more
information about the facilities, memberships and fees, call
699-6131.
THE OLD
CITY
PARK
History:
The small city park on the corner of Ashville Road and
Lane Drive was first constructed during the Great Depression by the
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC's)It was completely renovated and
updated in 2003 under the leadership of district 5 City Councilman
Cary Kennedy, District 5 volunteers and the City of
Leeds.
Covered picnic pavilions were added
and a state-of-the-art playground for young children. The park has
become a favorite place for parents to take their young children and
for other family events. A picnic pavilion can be reserved in any of
the city parks for family reunions, birthday parties and other
events by calling the civic center at 699-6131.
MOTON
CITY
PARK
History: Moton Park
is located in the Russell Heights area of Leeds.
It was first established in the mid 1940s on 40 acres
purchased by the Jefferson County Board of Education to build a high
school to serve African-American students from
Leeds, Trussville, Irondale, Rose Hill and Overton. The Robert R. Moton High School
was named for the second president of Tuskegee Institute.
Mayor Bill Dorrough asked the county BOE
and MHS Principal John T. Smith to set aside two acres to build a
municipal swimming pool for black youth and citizens of
Leeds.
Over a period of time the park became known as Moton Park
because it was adjacent to the high school. In the 1980s,
the swimming pool was filled in and converted into a covered
pavilion. During the 1990s, ball fields, basketball courts, a
walking track and a picnic area were added. Today, the entire park
area covers about 15 acres of the original 40 acres. The land and
park are now owned and managed by the Leeds City Schools System and
is made available for the enjoyment by all citizens.
MEMORIAL PARK
History:
The Memorial Park is located on Montevallo Road SW
(Highway 119). It was established as a memorial to all veterans from
the Leeds area from all branches of the military from all
wars, including those killed or missing in action. Buddy Adair has
devoted many years as a volunteer to the project of establishing the
small veterans memorial park area within the park to honor our
hometown heroes. The Memorial Park evolved from an "Avenue of Flags'
salute to veterans that began on Parkway Drive in downtown
Leeds. The project was spearheaded by City Councilwoman
Jane Culbreth. Flags
were displayed along with markers purchased by families with the
name of the veteran or military person to be honored. In 1970,
Mayor Jack Courson encouraged the City Council to buy all the
land that would become the Memorial Park when it was placed on the
market to be sold.
Following the development of the front part of the park, all the
flags and markers were moved from Parkway Drive to the park.
Today the park is
also known for its popular walking track, ball fields, concession
stand and other park amenities.
The park received new
playground equipment through a $100.000 grant secured by District 3
City Councilwoman, Carol Phillips.
HISTORICAL PARK
History:
The Historical Park was officially established on November
19, 1998, by the unanimously vote of the Leeds City Council at the
request of Historical Society President Marie Cromer backed by the
unanimous recommendation of the Leeds Parks & Recreation Board.
The purpose of the park would be to call attention to the
history and heritage of Leeds. The park was developed by grants and contributions
over a period of years by a corps of historical society volunteers,
Leeds garden clubs, the Tree Commission and the City of Leeds. Judi Brasher and Preston McLaughlin
served as co-chairmen of the Medal of Honor Monument Committee that
pays tribute to the city's three Medal of Honor recipients.
Located in the park is an outdoor interpretive display on the old
Fuller's Grist Mill, including a display of the mill stones from the
grist mill that was once located on the Little Cahaba south of the
park. The grinding stones were donated to the Historical Park
by former Leeds residents Glenn and
Aline Spruiell of Hueytown.
The park was officially dedicated to the public in a ceremony
on Sept. 21, 2002. The
green iron bridge that spans the Little Cahaba and connects the two
parks was donated by Lehigh Cement Company.
Handicap ramps on each side of the connecting bridge were
built and installed in August 2006, by three brothers, Henry, David
and Frank Johnson. Today "Johnson
Bridge" has a marker of
appreciation to the volunteer work of the three carpenters.
