Wade on Birmingham

The Future of Birmingham: Big ideas

By
Regions Field

Photos: Hugh Hunter. Reprinted with permission.

Regions Field shows how big ideas in Birmingham come to life
through civic partnership and determination.

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Get the full version of this photo essay in our free ebook.
Details at the end.

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By Hugh Hunter

Birmingham has had big ideas in its past, from the original Vulcan statue created in 1903 and its recent renovation, through the rise of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to Railroad Park and Regions Field.

The Future of BirminghamOur recent success is driven more by individual entrepreneurial vision and passion. What we lack is a community partnership of business and government that seizes on visionary opportunities like the rerouting of I-20/59 through downtown, below, and makes it happen.

I-20/59

I-20/59

Or as David Sher blows against the coarse wind of naysayers by lobbying for some sort of regional government in his blog, ComebackTown.

Roald Hazelhoff, director of the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College, started the Darter Festival at Railroad Park and wanted to reposition us as the Gateway to Nature, dropping the old dated Magic City moniker. [Editor’s note: Hugh Hunter served on the center’s board of trustees since 1995.]

Turkey Creek

The Southern Environmental Center is a co-manager of
the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.

And my friend and Mr. Birmingham Tom Cosby, below, is championing one of my favorite big ideas: extending the Appalachian Trail to Alabama. He has shown me where the trailhead will start at Flagg Mountain, about 20 miles south of Sylacauga.

Tom Cosby

So, let’s think big, Birmingham!

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Hugh HunterHugh Hunter is owner of Hunter Photography and partner in Hunter Films, both based in Birmingham.

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The Future of BirminghamThe full version of this photo essay and many more are available in the free ebook, “The Future of Birmingham.”

All you need to do is fill out this simple form. We’ll email you a link to download the book. (And, at no extra charge, we’ll add you to the mailing list for the free Y’all Connect newsletter.)

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Read more essays in our special 10th anniversary series, The Future of Birmingham.

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  1. Wade on Birmingham » #sundayread for Sept. 27, 2015
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