Northport Takes Big Steps On Three Major Recreational Projects

NORTHPORT, AL — The Northport City Council Monday night took major steps toward the development of an outdoor adventure park on Rose Boulevard and the transformation of Kentuck Park into a world-class sports tournament complex.

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What's more, the city also approved a master service agreement with ProParks Management to handle the initial phases of the proposed aquatic center and water park to be located along the Highway 82 corridor.

City Engineer Tera Tubbs explained that the 151-acre site off of Rose Boulevard will see the city make the most the terrain of the area, with the plan calling for cottages, zip lines, walking trails, birdwatching trails, mountain biking trails, a retreat center, a high ropes course and several pavilions throughout the area.

As Patch previously reported, the Northport City Council in September 2021 unanimously approved the purchase of 151 acres off of Rose Boulevard for $700,000 from the Black Warrior Solid Waste Authority.

This site was initially eyed to be the location for the proposed water park, but when officials considered the costs of grading down the rugged terrain, the decision was made to begin talks on turning the land into an adventure sports park.

"We're very excited to take advantage of the terrain we have out there," Tubbs said, before explaining that the city will now begin considering different funding sources through grants and other options.

Click here to view the adventure park master plan adopted Monday night.

Perhaps the biggest revelation of the night, however, followed with the introduction and adoption of a master plan for large-scale improvements to the area in and around Kentuck Park to construct a modern tournament facility complete with a wide range of amenities.

Tubbs explained that the available property is connected to the the city's Levee Trail and across the street from Van De Graaff Park and Arboretum. What's more, she said the location was suitable for every amenity on the city's initial wish list, along with a couple new ones thrown in, all in an effort to promote both tourism and local use of a new state-of-the-art sportsplex.

The master plan calls:

• Four tennis courts.
• A pickleball facility/court.
• An indoor facility with a walking track, indoor classroom space, four basketball courts and four volleyball courts.
• A grass amphitheater.
• Nine tournament-ready fields with two overlooking the Black Warrior River.
• A total of 15 fields for softball and baseball.
• Connection to the Levee Trail, with the possibility of constructing a trailhead.

Click here to view the Kentuck Park master plan adopted Monday night.

With pavilions spread out around the proposed Kentuck site, Tubbs pointed to the rise in popularity of competitive high school fishing. The new park build-out, she said, would double the amount of boats that could be parked for events, along with a convenient launch point for those participating in competitions on the river.

"This is definitely something that was envisioned a few years ago and like I tell everybody it's a marathon, not a sprint," Hogg said prior to the measure receiving unanimous support from the Council. "And trying to get this laid out and trying to get everyone involved in the concept and taking everyone's opinion and seeing exactly what the citizens and their families wanted to see, I think we've hit on every aspect of what you can do with the sports complex."

Hogg also commented on the benefit these amenities will provide to both the Kentuck Festival of the Arts and Tuscaloosa County High School. For instance, Kentuck Arts Center normally has to bring in a stage each year for its annual festival, but with the permanent addition of a grass amphitheater and other infrastructure improvements, that energy and cost will be saved.

TCHS also does not have a dedicated tennis facility on its campus in Northport — a problem that will be alleviated with the new improvements to Kentuck Park.

Following the adoption of the master plans for both the Rose Boulevard adventure sports park and the Kentuck sportsplex project, Tubbs said city officials would now set out to secure the necessary funding to begin on the earliest phases of the projects. While some money will come from sales tax revenue set aside for recreation projects, Tubbs said the city will also be seeking grants and other funding options for the sweeping improvements.

NEXT MOVES FOR WATER PARK

The Northport City Council also took a major step forward Monday night in its push for a water park and aquatic center on Highway 82.

As Patch previously reported, the City of Northport officially closed a deal in October to purchase a large parcel of land along the U.S. Highway 82 corridor in the vacant tract adjacent to Big Lots, Tractor Supply Co. and Zaxby's that will now be the intended site for the proposed, large-scale aquatic facility.

On Monday, the Council voted to enter into a full service agreement with ProParks Management Co., which will now be tasked with sizing the park and examining its optimum capacity. Tubbs said the firm specializes in water park project management has experience from the conception phase of the project, up through its construction and opening.

The first task order directive approved under this new agreement immediately followed, with the City Council voting unanimously for the firm to begin work on preliminary matters such as marketing, demographics, and better understanding how to position the new water park within the area's tourism economy.

"It's very important we size our water park appropriately," Tubbs said. "We don't want it to be too small. We don't want it to be too big. We want it to be that sweet spot that allows it to be very successful for our community."

Hogg expressed great satisfaction at seeing such big developments for the three projects, which have been central campaign issues for the District 5 representative on both of his campaigns for City Council.

"I am so glad to see the water park, adventure park and sports complex are all being done, I love seeing it being done simultaneously as well," Hogg said. "These are different areas that will be beneficial to the growth of Northport and also to make this a destination city and one that people will come in and stay for days, not just one day."

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