The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved $347,115 for a 4.5-mile walking trail along West Birmingham’s Village Creek. The project will be part of a larger network connecting more than 160 miles of trails across six major corridors of Jefferson County called the Red Rock Trail System.

“We all know the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and getting exercise,” said Councilor Sonja Smith, whose district includes the Village Creek trail. “Being able to have an asset like this in the community really helps improve the quality of life and public safety for people who want to exercise. Long, continuous paths like this allow people to tailor their experience to their needs.”

According to city officials, the Village Creek project converts an inactive rail corridor into a multi-use trail and will serve as an important segment of a larger 36-mile loop.

The vote on the measure comes as the council approved an amendment to an agreement with the Jefferson County Greenways Foundation for the redevelopment of East Side Park which is to offer 10,000 feet of wheelchair accessible trails. The city is providing $1 million toward the plan, with three-quarters of that coming from American Rescue Act Plan funding.

The council also approved an agreement with the Friends of Shades Mountain and the city of Hoover under which the city will work with the groups to create a public natural preserve on 18 acres of Shades Mountain called Hale Springs. Officials said the plan is for the property to be acquired by Forever Wild Land Trust.

In other business, the council:

• Approved providing $82,000 in incentives to Brasfield & Gorrie for the construction firm’s planned 77,000-square-foot office building and parking deck expansion. The Jefferson County Commission in March approved an incentive package for the project that is capped at $250,000.
•  Approved a permit for a nonhazardous medical waste treatment and paper shredding facility planned for the Kingston community. The facility is a project of Harvest Solutions, which will use property at 4400 7th Ave. S. for the location. According to executives with the company, the operation will use ozone technology to sanitize the materials, which will come to the facility in puncture-proof bags or sealed boxes approved by the Department of Transportation. The treatment systems would all be inside the facility, with no water runoff, odor or emissions. The council held a hearing on the project last week and neighborhood leaders spoke in favor of the new business, which will occupy a former industrial site.
• Approved an agreement that leaders said was needed to begin construction on a senior living and early learning development at the former Graymont School property. As part of the agreement, the city will pay Jefferson County $790,000 for the county’s 50% interest in the property. City officials say the Graymont School development will include 101 affordable housing units.