When Carlee Sanford came on as the executive director of Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve in 2016, the organization was struggling.

She and her staff went to work to get the preserve on better financial footing, and in the process she discovered that Red Mountain Park and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve were struggling, too

But these days are a lot different, Sanford said. “It’s been really exciting, this change,” she said.

Much of that change is due to the formation of the Jefferson County Greenways Commission last year to support the day-to-day operations of the three greenspaces. The nonprofit boards for each of the parks also joined to form the Jefferson County Greenways Foundation to act as a single entity to plan for capital improvements, support programs and conservation efforts. Park officials say the collaboration also helps prevent inefficiencies, the duplication of senior staff and competition for the same donations and grant money.

Another factor for the change was money. Lots of money. Nearly $4 million in public and private dollars.

In 2016, Ruffner Mountain had $1.3 million in debt and Red Mountain had $1.2 million by 2018. Turkey Creek faced its own financial dangers because of the uncertainty around one of its major backers, Birmingham-Southern College.

It didn’t take long for parks officials to figure out the major problem. Sanford quoted a line from a 1991 feasibility study that stayed with her:

“Several studies of Jefferson County’s park and recreation facilities have been conducted in the past 15 years. The primary policy recommendation of each of these studies has consistently been that the County establish a coordinated system of parks management. Currently, no such system exists.”

Lack of County Support

While the parks received support from cities — with Birmingham offering the most, at about $300,000 annually — the county had traditionally not donated to the three greenspaces. That’s not the norm in Alabama.

Montgomery County, for example, spends just less than $25 per capita in culture, parks and recreation annually, according to local parks officials. If Jefferson County spent at that rate, that would be nearly $16.5 million.

In November 2022, however, the County Commission agreed to commit $2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to the Greenways Commission over three years. But the parks group would have to raise an additional $1.6 million by October 2023.

By the time the deadline rolled around, they had surpassed that goal. Major supporters included:

• Jefferson County Health Department: $400,000
• Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham: $600,000
• State of Alabama: $350,000
• Alabama Power Foundation: $300,000
• Then-Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons, from his office funds: $300,000

“Shared resources and shared goals just made all kinds of sense, and so I bought in,” said Ammons, who is now the CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Asked why the County Commission didn’t financially support an effort such as the Greenways Commission sooner, Ammons said funds had been limited due to the county pulling out of what at the time was the largest municipal bankruptcy in the country.

“They were working on getting out of a consent decree and not irritating the federal judge,” he said.

Another critical piece for the success of the Greenways Commission came last fall, Sanford said, when the County Commission created a $350,000 line item in its budget for the project.

She said the increased funding means the Greenways Commission could soon look for opportunities to expand — especially in areas where green spaces are limited.

First County Parks Superintendent

Another major development came at the end of August, when the commission named the new — and first ever — Jefferson County Parks superintendent, La Fran D. Marks.

Sanford and the director for development for Red Mountain Park, Leah Davis, introduced Marks to the Birmingham City Council in a recent meeting, during which they also accepted the city’s donation of $250,000 for the Greenways Commission.

Davis told the council that its support has been pivotal in setting the Greenways Commission up for a strong future.

“We’re really excited to be part of the economic development and community development of greater Birmingham,” she said.

Councilor Valerie Abbott, whose district includes Red Mountain, said she remembers well the days when the park and many other entities didn’t know whether they would keep the doors open.

“This makes it sound like we’re past all that and moving on in a good direction.” Abbott said. “I know that you all are enthusiastic about what you’re doing, and it’s great. When government works it’s just so fantastic.”