Tuscaloosa Breaks Ground on New $1.8 Million Springbrook Park

City leaders in Tuscaloosa gathered in the Springbrook neighborhood Tuesday morning to break ground on upgrades to the already-under-construction public park there funded by the Elevate Tuscaloosa sales tax program.

The neighborhood sits between two creeks off McFarland Boulevard and is represented by District 7's Cassius Lanier, but mayor Walt Maddox said the park holds special significance for his family, as they lived across the street during his earliest years.

"We were six when I moved to Idlewood, so my first memories as a little boy are of playing out here in this park. I remember being under that crawl space during my first tornado," Maddox said. "I remember playing - there used to be a golf course out here and you could run behind the tree line and go play in the sand traps. To say this place has a special tug on my heart would be an understatement."

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The $1.8 million project will add new lighting and security, a new walking track, two new playgrounds, and new covered seating areas, according to the Elevate Tuscaloosa website.

"When we think about Elevate, normally the larger projects tend to get the higher profile whether it's Kentuck at Queen City or the Saban Center or even Snow Hinton Park and the Northern Riverwalk," Maddox said. "But I'll tell you, to the people of Springbrook, this is their Elevate project. To my parents, who are 81 and 82, this speaks to their soul."

Other representatives from the city council and staff members were there for the ceremony Tuesday morning, but only Maddox and Lanier spoke as the late September morning began to heat up.

"This is a great day for District 7. I'm super proud of this project because of what it represents - community, family and a better quality of life," Lanier said. "The Springbrook neighborhood represents just that I'm proud to be a part of this district and I can't think of a better place to start the upgrades to District 7. More importantly. I'm proud that this will remain a part of the Springbrook Community to enjoy early morning walks, playdates with the kids or just a quiet place to relax and read a book."

The upgrades to Springbrook Park are expected to be completed and ready for the community to enjoy by Spring 2025.

For more coverage of news and events around West Alabama and projects funded by the Elevate Tuscaloosa tax plan, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.