Ruffner Mountain is an urban nature center sitting on more than 1,000 acres in the middle of Birmingham... and good things are happening there.
I was reading some articles about Ruffner Mountain today, which led me to mention it here. One was Rooting for Ruffner and the other was Sen. Richard Shelby, others gather in Birmingham for Ruffner center groundbreaking.
According to the articles, Ruffner Mountain just had a groundbreaking for a $4.5 million Tree Top Visitor Center. Along with this is planned the purchase of another 500 acres of land, which would make Ruffner Mountain the largest nature preserve in the nation.
The nonprofit which runs Ruffner Mountain was formed 30 years ago but has lacked the resources and infrastructure necessary to take on such an undertaking. They are planning on its new grand opening to be in the fall of 2008.
According to Rooting for Ruffner, when you..."Throw in the plans for the Railroad Reservation Park in downtown Birmingham and the proposed Red Mountain Park to the west, and you get a glimpse of possibilities that could truly transform the metro area, with green space spanning across the city and offering an array of recreational activities. The collective parks could be a great tourism attraction, drawing in people who like to bike, hike or just experience nature in great big chunks. But just as important, the parks would add quality to the lives of people who call the Birmingham metro area home. (If it encourages Birmingham residents to lead healthier, more active lives, all the better.) "
To learn more about Ruffner Mountain visit the Ruffner Mountain website.
It's just one more reason why the Greater Birmingham Area is a great place to live!
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