East Side Park featured in Paraplegia News magazine

Alabama Park Revitalization 

While access to nature offers countless benefits, many public parks remain inaccessible to people with disabilities. At least one project aims to change that. Landscape architecture firm Hoerr Schaudt is leading the design for Jefferson County Greenways’ East Side Park in Birmingham, AL. Set on 6.5 acres, the civic space is being transformed into a fully accessible, ecologically rich public landscape designed to welcome people of all abilities. East Side Park will feature over 5,000 feet of wheelchair-accessible trails weaving through restored prairies, forests and wetlands, alongside rest areas and inclusive amenities.

Developed in close collaboration with local nonprofits, accessibility advocates and other members of the Birmingham community, the project places equity and sensory experience at its core — ensuring that every detail, from trail gradients to interpretive signage, supports both physical access and emotional connection to nature. During the visioning process, Hoerr Schaudt principal Matthew Macchietto met with a dedicated “inclusive focus group” comprising 10 nonprofits, including United Ability and United Ability Dad’s Group, KultureCity, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, the Exceptional Foundation, the Arc of Central Alabama, Lakeshore Foundation and more. Hoerr Schaudt also consulted with Ingrid Kanics of Kanics Inclusive Design Services, who is an occupational therapist and leader in inclusive design. Supported by the American Rescue Plan Act, the city of Birmingham and Councilor Hunter Williams, the project is now under construction, with completion expected in December 2026. Once finished, East Side Park will serve as a model for inclusive recreation and restorative design, expanding opportunities for adaptive outdoor activity and community gathering across Alabama.

For information about the project, visit jeffcogreenways.org/support/east-side-park or hoerrschaudt.com/project/east-side-park.