More enhancements planned for Barnum Park

A $12,000 donation to make landscaping improvements at Birmingham’s Barnum Park will proceed with enhancements to the park this year after the Birmingham City Commission, at their meeting on Monday, January 22, unanimously approved accepting and using the donation as well as preparing a design plan.

Lauren Wood, director of public services, informed the commission that the Community for Barnum Park received a donation of $12,000 to make landscaping improvements leading up to the “Arch” from Purdy Street in Barnum Park. “This enhancement is in keeping with the Barnum Park Concept Master Plan of further landscape enhancements and making use of the original bricks from the Barnum school building,” she said.

Wood said there was money available, $1,500, to have final design drawings done. The last time enhancement designs were done was 2013. Wood said the proposed improvements will be located north and south of the walkway leading to the arch from Purdy Street, and will include adding seating areas made from salvaged brick from Barnum School capped with concrete or limestone, as well as adding landscape materials such as boxwood shrubs and ground cover, along with a planter int he center of the concrete walkway.

The final design drawings and bid specifications will be prepared by David Peterhans, by David Young, an architect who has been acting as a representative for the Community for Barnum Park.

“We will have specs done, and then come back to you to have them be awarded,” Wood said.

A total of $13,500, from donations, was unanimously approved to be allocated for the improvements to the park.