Tuscaloosa's Randall Family Donates More Land to Expand Riverwalk

One of Tuscaloosa's newest and most popular parks is set to grow as a philanthropic family prepares to donate more than six acres of riverfront land for its expansion.

City leaders cut the ribbon on the Randall Family Park and Trailhead at the Northern Riverwalk last fall, and the new amenity has drawn families, visitors and pets to the banks of the Black Warrior River in the year since then.

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The park was made possible by Randall family, the founders of the media empire now known as Randall-Reilly Publishing.

The family donated 19 acres of land worth almost $3 million to kickstart the development of the park, which adds a much-needed outdoor amenity to the northern bank of the river to complement the long-popular Tuscaloosa Riverwalk on the southern bank.

Now, the $6 million park is set to expand after the family agreed to donate another 6.6 acres of land to push its trails further northwest -- Deputy City Attorney Tom Bobitt told a council committee Tuesday that the trail will be expanded to stretch behind the Village at Northbank office park.

City councilman Matthew Wilson, who chairs the council's properties committee, praised the family for continuing to support the development of this vision for the northern Riverwalk.

"We're so fortunate to have people like them, Mrs. Randall and the Randall family, to give this contribution to our city," he said. "We're grateful and thankful to have stakeholders like that."

Councilman Norman Crow, who represents the parts of Tuscaloosa found north of the Black Warrior, was also appreciative.

"That's a very nice donation and it is unbelievable, the generosity of that family for our community," Crow said. "I am very grateful that we're going to be extending a very popular riverwalk north of the river in my district.

The committee unanimously voted to support the land donation, which will now proceed for a full vote of the seven-member city council next Tuesday.