Planting a park

When 15-year-old Hunt Cochrane heard about the plans for the Cahaba River Walk, he saw an opportunity. He needed an Eagle Scout project, and the city didn’t have funding for secondary trails on the site. As it turned out, he had an unexpected connection to the park.

The Mountain Brook Junior High student was showing the project plans to his grandparents when his grandfather, Carter Kennedy, suddenly recognized the property. Years before, Kennedy had bought the land as part of his construction of the River Run subdivision. He donated the leftover land to Brookwood Baptist Church, which eventually sold it to the city to create the park his grandson was now helping to create at the intersection of Overton Road and River Run Road.

“What a small world,” Cochrane said.

Cochrane finished his Eagle Scout project in January. With the help of about 10 fellow members of Troop 28, he created a 4-foot-wide gravel path across the park and planted native vegetation along the path and in the bioswale, an area designed to naturally remove pollutants from water. Cochrane also installed identification markers for the trees and native plants.

There was plenty of research involved in finding the best native plants to grow in the park. Cochrane had to consider which species would grow well in the winter and would filter water in the bioswale without clogging it up. After seeing a deer in the park during one visit, Cochrane had to seek out deer-proof plants as well.

The species that made the cut included Ohio buckeyes, oak leaf hydrangeas, bursting hearts and southern shield ferns. Local florist Rebecca Cohn sold them to Cochrane at cost to help make the project more affordable.

The bioswale that Cochrane planted is part of a plan to keep the Cahaba River clean. Runoff rainwater from the parking lot will go through the bioswale and the plants will filter out pollutants and harmful chemicals before the water reaches the river.

Cochrane had to raise all the funds for his Eagle Scout project. He estimated that the plans would cost around $1,500, but he said his family, friends and fellow Scouts were generous. He raised more than $3,100, and the leftover money will be donated to the city for future improvements to the river walk.

“I wanted to help the city and improve upon this park for future use,” Cochrane said.

Nimrod Long of Nimrod Long and Associates said he was glad to see Cochrane’s work, which helped to make the park look like he had originally envisioned.

“Hunt’s done a good job. He’s been very diligent and worked hard,” Long said. “Adding that [nature trail] back in and adding the picnic shelter really completed the park.”

Another Boy Scout completed his Eagle Scout project at the park. Reid Carter, the son of former council member Amy Carter, built a split-rail fence at the front of the park. Amy Carter said she knew the city did not have the funding for the fence, which led Reid to take on the project. The 17-year-old Mountain Brook High School student raised $2,500 and, with the help of six other Scouts, completed the fence in July. He has already had his Eagle Scout ceremony.

Aside from Cochrane’s project, the 4.7-acre park includes a 0.3-mile loop walkway, a 20-car parking lot, a path to the natural stone beach at the river edge and more native plants throughout. Long said an existing hardwood forest on the site was preserved for visitors to enjoy. He estimated that some of the magnolias, oaks, beeches and maple trees were more than 50 years old. 

Local schools can use the park’s stone seating area adjacent to the river as an outdoor classroom. Long said the Cahaba River Society teaches elementary students about the river’s importance and takes them into the shallow area near the beach to look for fish and mussels. A picnic pavilion overlooking the river will also be available for events.

The pavilion was a later addition to the plans for the park. Long said its location gives a great view of the Cahaba River and hills in the background, and he expects it to be popular.

“It’s going to be a nice feature, and I’m glad the city and the park board found the money to add that back in,” Long said.

With the addition of the pavilion, the total cost of the park was around $450,000. The pavilion was scheduled to be complete at the end of January, and Long estimated that landscaping, drainage and other small details will be finished before Feb. 15. After a final double check of the park, Long expects to hand it over to the city for a grand opening in early or mid-March.

There are currently no plans for additions to the Cahaba River Walk, but the long-term vision is to build connecting paths through Mountain Brook and surrounding areas. Long said the full sidewalk master plan will take coordination between the county and several municipalities, but his company contributed by building a 2-mile trail between the park and the Carraway Davie House at 4465 Old Overton Road. Enabling residents to easily walk to the park could make it a more popular spot.

The finished Cahaba River Walk will provide opportunities for people to exercise, picnic, fish, canoe and just enjoy nature. Long said the dedicated work of community members like Cochrane and council member Virginia Smith were integral to the project’s success.

“Having a park on the river and touching the river is nice,” Long said. “It’s a whole other dimension for citizens.”