Crestline Residents Concerned About Park's Upkeep

BIRMINGHAM, AL - One of the gems of the Crestline neighborhood of Birmingham has always been the proximity to Crestline Park, often referred to as "the hidden park" because it is surrounded by homes and accessible via four small entrances. That park, which includes a walking track, a playground and two large grassy areas on either side of the playground, has been cause for concern among neighborhood residents regarding the city's maintenance of the area.

At a special Crestline Neighborhood Association meeting Thursday, residents discussed those concerns, namely that Birmingham does not mow the park as often as needed, which has made the park - at times - unusable. As well, concerns have been raised for years regarding what many feel is outdated playground equipment and that the trash cans are overflowing.

India Bailey, with Birmingham City Council representative Hunter Williams' office, told the association Tgursday night that plans to replace the playground equipment that were originally slated for the summer will now be rescheduled for November, which drew some ire from many residents. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

Crestline resident Todd Russell addressed the association with a suggestion that the neighborhood get volunteers to help mow the grass and keep the park clean. Russell, a resident of the neighborhood for more than two decades, was part of a croquet club that played at the park for 10 years, between 2005 and 2015, and would often mow the part of the park used by the Crestline Park Lawn Sports Society for games. After the group stopped using the park for croquet, the appearance of the park changed, residents have said.

Discussions are in progress of getting the city to partner with residents for a park clean-up event.

Bailey assured the association that Williams is working with the city to make sure the park is maintained on a regular schedule.

Photo by Michael Seale/Patch