Huntsville and Madison Greenways

Within the cities of Huntsville and Madison their are numerous greenways open to walkers, runners, and bikers.  As our community grows these recreational spaces become more important as they connect people to neighborhoods, schools, work, and parks. 

*5/17/2016 - Added embedded master plan maps for Huntsville and Madison

 What follows is a guide to the existing greenways, multiuse paths, and neighborhood trails throughout Huntsville in Madison.

Greenway, Multiuse, and Neighborhood trails

Here is how I will define greenways, multiuse paths and neighborhood trails for the purpose of this guide.  Greenways are wide paved trails built by the city that are away from roads that typically follow some sort of creek or river and they usually connect to schools, parks and neighborhoods.  Multiuse Paths wide, typically paved, sidewalks that parallel a road and are normally built as part of the construction of the aforementioned road.  Neighborhood Trails are built by the housing developer and run through the a neighborhood or around a water feature like a small lake or man made pond.  Not all HOAs appreciate non residents using their trails so be sure to check before partaking or live dangerously.

How The Guide Works

The map that we have created here shows the location of greenway as well as many of the significant multiuse paths and neighborhood trails.  For each of those there is brief description and a link to a more in depth sub articles with news, updates, and speculation. 

Key: Blue - Existing Greenway
Red - Multiuse Path/Neighborhood Path
Purple - Funded but not yet built
Green - Planned/Speculative
Black - Neighborhood Connector

For a link to the full map click here.

Musings

Since writing the first greenway guide I have learned a lot and have made some good connections with city officials in both Madison and Huntsville and from them I have learned a few things.  One thing I have learned is that when it  comes to constructing greenways the city plays the long game.  Since a lot of the greenways run next to rivers and creeks that have to built well or they will be washed away very quickly which is why the city chooses to build premium greenways that will stand the test of time to the tune of million dollars a mile.  My Second take away is that building a greenway network that connects to things is important to the city and to developers.  You put a greenway just about anywhere and people will drive to and use it to get their daily miles.  But if you put that same greenway in a places where people can use it to get to work, take their kids to school, or go grab dinner it reduces traffic, promotes a healthy life style, and make neighborhoods safer.

Huntsville Greenways

The city of Huntsville's has partnered with the Land Trust of North Alabama to create a new master plan for greenways. Just like the old plan from 2006 the new proposed master plan call for over 180 miles of dedicated greenways and or crushed gravel trails.  I don't think that all 180 of those specific miles will ever be built but over time some version of them all may.   As mentioned earlier every mile costs on average one million dollars to build so at that rate, not taking into account the existing network or inflation, a full greenway network will cost the city 180 million bucks.  Not to long ago the Huntsville City Council voted to increase the sales tax a 1/2 cent to generate 25 million dollars a year for road projects.  The city has said that any surplus above that 25 million, which there is projected to be, will be used for city parks which includes the greenway network which puts us that much closer to 180 million bucks.  So until then Huntsville has 30 miles open right now with a few projects in the hopper. 

Here is the plan that was just drawn up and has not officially been adopted. You can find a legend for this map here..

Aldridge Creek Greenway (4.5 Miles)

 

One of the coolest spots on the Huntsville city greenways.

A photo posted by Huntsville Outdoors (@huntsvilleoutdoors) on Apr 22, 2016 at 10:19am PDT

The first, longest, and most used greenway in the city; though I have no statistics to back up that last claim.  It longest section runs along Aldridge Creek from Ditto Landing ending a 1/4 mile before Weatherly Road on Bailey Cove Raod.  The other section know as the Altwood Linear Greenway is .89 miles running along Aldridge Creek as well from the North end of the Valley Hill Country Club to Four Mile Post Road.  There is a third planned and funded section that runs from Weatherly Road to Eslinger Drive ending at the south side of the Valley Hill Country Club.  For those of you keeping score at home that is three unconnected section of greenway. For more information Aldridge Creek Greenway and its many sections click here.

Big Cove Creek Greenway/Flint River Greenway (4.5 miles)

The Big Cove greenway follows Big Cove creek for 2.5 miles from a Hampton Cove Neighborhood on the east side of Hwy 431 to the Hayes Nature preserve where it changes names to the Flint River Greenway and continues on another 2 miles now following Flint river before ending at Old Hwy 431.  There are four convient parking locations at Hampton Cove Elementry/Middle School, Behind the Publix Shopping Center, Haynes Nature Preserve, and off of Old HWY 431. 

Off of the Flint River section there are two spots where the greenway comes to "T" with one side of the "T" noticably missing.  Coming from the Haynes Nature presever parking lot the first "T" is located just over first bridge and bears off to the right into an open field.  The other is located near the end of the greenway around mile 4 and bears south following the Flint River.  Obviously that leaves those places open for future expansion of the network under hwy 431 to the Goldsmith Schiffman Wildlife preserve where it could connect to a short section of the Flint River Greenway that is there which not many people actuall know about. 

Big Spring Greenway (.6 Miles)

Big Spring Greenway start at the Big Spring in Big Spring Park, then around either side of the coy pond, before ending between the Embassay Suite and VBC.  In our Greenways: Big Picture article we go in to more detail about some possible future expansions. One of those expansion has moved a step closer to reality thanks to the city's application for a Federal TIGER Grant to build a "Sky Bridge" over the intersection of Governers and Memorail Parkway to Lowe Mill and a branch north on Pinhook Creek from the Embassy Suites (Read more about that here).  The city has also recently anouced plans to construct a greenway from the new City Center Development (The old Holiday Inn) to California Street following Fagan Creek. 

Cabela's 565 Greenway (.5 miles) (Funded)

This yet to be constructed greenway, which has been funded by the city, will run under Interstate 565 from near the new Cabela's to new Redstone Gateway complex.  This will be the first greenway in the city to traverses under a major road way.  The most recent proposed maps show it starting at a yet to built parking lot off of Governors Drive West with no proposed way to traverse the railroad tracks that prevent it from connecting to Research Park and the Indian Creek Greenway.  The challenge here of course is crossing the busy rail road tracks which may be cost prohibitive. 

Gateway Greenway/Bud Crammer Greenway (.5 Miles)

Gateway greenway is the shortest greenway in the entire network.  It runs from The War Memorial near the round house to Meridian Street near the parking lot adjacent AM Booth's Lumberyard.  From its end there is a second unattached section called the Bud Cranmer Greenway.  From This greenway you have access to multiple bars and restaurants as well as a dog park.

Indian Creek (2.89 Miles) / Providence Greenway (1 Mile)

Indian Creek Greenway located on the edge of Huntsville and Madison running starting at Old Madison Pike it runs 2.89 miles northing going under Farrow Road before abruptly ending near the Mid Towne on the Park Development.  From this greenway you have acess to Columbia High School, Cummings Research Park, and Creekwood Park.   Just like Aldridge Creek it has a currently unconnected section of greenway located in the Providence mixed use development.  It runs from US Hwy 72 to Providence Elemenrty Shcool.  From this greenway you have access to all of the shops and business located in providence as well as the aforementioned elementry school.  Indian Creek plays heavily in Cummings Research Park Master Plan as well with new porposed connections and trails (Read more about that here).   I have a more in depth write up about Indian Creek Greenway here: Indian Creek Greenway.

Jones Family Park (.5 Miles)

Located behind Fleet Feet, the best running store in town, this short greenway runs from Four Mile Post to Bailey Cove road.  For more information about it look at our Aldridge Creek Greenway article by clicking here.

Little Cove Greenway (5 miles)

Little Cove Greenway Starts near the Hampton Cove Middle School from the Big cove greenway and parallels Old hwy 431 for 5 miles.  Little Cove could technically be called a multiuse path but since Huntsville classifies it as a greenway then we will too.  It connects to multiple neighborhoods some of which offer neighborhood walking trails that you can run through.  The greenway eventually ends abruptly ending when it reaches the Flint River.  If the urban sprawl contunes east the city could justify building a pedestrian bridge over the river to continue the greenway but would eventually need to partner with the city of Gurley.