Improve Huntsville's Riverfront!
Florence can do it, Guntersville can, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis can... Why not Huntsville? Let's improve our riverfront! A great first step would some lovely parks for families, children and dogs.
Welcome to Imagine Huntsville! Mayor Tommy Battle's online tool for community engagement. Each month we will highlight new topics, and we welcome your thoughts. You can submit an idea, support other ideas and offer feedback to any comment or posting.
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What citywide park improvements do you want to see in Huntsville?
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Florence can do it, Guntersville can, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis can... Why not Huntsville? Let's improve our riverfront! A great first step would some lovely parks for families, children and dogs.
Greenways are shown to increase physical activity and boost local businesses. It is a economical way to enjoy the outdoors, commute, and exercise.
A few years ago the HSV chamber visited Austin Texas to get ideas about what to do on HSV. Recall this visit and the 4th 6th street areas, lots great restaurants, places where bands can play, entertainment, stores, etc... and block off the street on the weekend and have festivals there as well. Austin does it up right
Extend beyond the farmer's market to have an event for the entire community and local businesses. The art walks one time a month showed people are interested in getting downtown and becoming involved in the local economy. Have weekly markets that include multiple businesses, arts, and crafts that the community can engage in.
Big Spring Jam has failed to be a success for years. The last time I remember going and actually enjoying it was 10 years ago! Instead of trying to do another jam or replace it Huntsville should get some big name bands to play the concerts in the park! There could be food and other vendors. Have a different band play in the park every Saturday in May! I know this sounds like panoply, but this could be a lot better than ...more »
Big Spring Jam has failed to be a success for years. The last time I remember going and actually enjoying it was 10 years ago! Instead of trying to do another jam or replace it Huntsville should get some big name bands to play the concerts in the park! There could be food and other vendors. Have a different band play in the park every Saturday in May! I know this sounds like panoply, but this could be a lot better than trying the weekend long big spring jam that always fails!
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Create Bike lanes (Netherlands style) that connect Downtown to Ditto Landing, and Downtown to Madison. Allow a bike riding family the pleasure of riding the entire city by bike using protected bike lanes. Extend the existing linear parks. Put a Rail-Trail in next to Memorial Park Highway. Do more for Huntsville families that ride bikes.
The lovely recreational walkway alongside Big Spring extends from downtown but abruptly ends at Heart of Huntsville. If that walkway could be extended to Memorial and small shops permitted along the route, it could connect to Huntsville Hospital and the new hotel, offering more walkability for downtown residents and workers as well as shopping/food options during downtown events.
Aldridge Creek Greenway expansion northward should continue to be a priority. Linking the southern neighborhoods to the Target shopping area will be loved by all riders in SE Huntsville.
Bicycle lanes are proven to improve safety, increase the number and demographics of cyclists, boost the economy along their routes, improve traffic flow, and have minimal maintenance costs. Currently we have little signs creating 'bike' lanes. This needs to be expanded.
Huntsville and the surrounding area has a great greenway master plan. (http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/gis/greenways_new/pdfs/GreenwaysPlan2006.pdf) We need to prioritize extending this system, especially the routes that can be used for alternate transportation in higher density areas, around schools and connecting to neighborhood retail. Extending the greenway out in Hampton Cove has been the focus, and while that's a ...more »
Huntsville and the surrounding area has a great greenway master plan. (http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/gis/greenways_new/pdfs/GreenwaysPlan2006.pdf) We need to prioritize extending this system, especially the routes that can be used for alternate transportation in higher density areas, around schools and connecting to neighborhood retail. Extending the greenway out in Hampton Cove has been the focus, and while that's a fine recreational asset for the area, it doesn't serve the broader community or help with more than just recreational uses.
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It is obvious from the many related posts that Greenways and bike trails are important to this community. Hays bike paths and connecting Greenways serve hundreds of people each week. Walkers, bikers, runners, all use the trails. I wouldlike to see continued financial support for expanding all our trails and continue work toward connecting all the trails.
I'd like to see the overpasses painted with a rocket theme. In Las Cruces NM they painted all overpasses with a southwestern theme and they look beautiful and add historical beauty to the city. You could paint art or anything that would enhance the area. Rockets is just one idea. Maybe the historical aspects of Huntsville.
I think Huntsville could support a bike exchange like in Chattanooga, Dc, and other big cities.
http://www.bikechattanooga.com
I have used this service in Chattanooga, DC, And Melbourne Australia. It is fantastic and fits well with the green space trailsthat we have in plan. I would drive the family to a rack at Mt. Gap and ride to Jones Valley or downtown. Makes sense to me.
Put in sidewalks alongside memorial parkway in SE Huntsville. There needs to be sidewalks that run parallel to memorial parkway thru the businesses that line the parkway. You see people walking down the median or along the side of the road in the grass because there are no sidewalks. I would mandate sidewalks throughout the city because it keeps people & children out of the roads which is much safer and encourages people ...more »
Put in sidewalks alongside memorial parkway in SE Huntsville. There needs to be sidewalks that run parallel to memorial parkway thru the businesses that line the parkway. You see people walking down the median or along the side of the road in the grass because there are no sidewalks. I would mandate sidewalks throughout the city because it keeps people & children out of the roads which is much safer and encourages people to get out and walk.
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As downtown continues to develop, I believe it is just as important to maintain what we already have.
The courthouse has great architecture, but could use a face lift. Why not create some temp jobs and hire out some folks to wash her.
Those rain/stain streaks detract from an otherwise beautiful space.
This would attach people from the suburbs to move back into the city.
We will take on Chicago head to head and win. Given the history of engineering in Huntsville we can succeed. Lets tun the post industrial zones into welcoming communities. WE can do this. Bikes lanes, solar panels, recycled materials, architectural salvage, walkable well lighted paths in to the city center, and a focus on energy sustainability.
Alabama has the highest diversity of fish in the country. During my travels with the military I traveled to several places. One thing I can see which would make an improvement to our area is a Zoo or Aquarium. Basically I would like to see something which embraces science, education, awareness, and instills curiosity within our children. Alabama is an outdoor state with an extensive wildlife. I believe we need more in ...more »
Alabama has the highest diversity of fish in the country. During my travels with the military I traveled to several places. One thing I can see which would make an improvement to our area is a Zoo or Aquarium. Basically I would like to see something which embraces science, education, awareness, and instills curiosity within our children. Alabama is an outdoor state with an extensive wildlife. I believe we need more in this area. Somewhere near Monte Sano is my vote
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I would love to see wildflowers planted & maintained along the main corridors in and out of Huntsville that now are just mowed. Probably some of that is state responsibility not city but just think how pretty it would be to have Flowers blooming along the streets and in the medians. The city could save time & money each season by not having to mow during the summer/early fall months.
Paving the alleys creates income. Home owners could build rear services granny flats and rent them. This would also create great paths for walking and biking.
Well lit alleys will drive away crime.
The City should buy Hobbs Island near Ditto landing, connect it to the greenway system and make a large natural park with trails for citizens to enjoy. This island was used for farming years ago and now has went natural. This could be a beautiful addition to Huntsville parks.
I was walking down the Aldridge Creek Greenway today and was thinking how nice it would be to have some type of festival or community event along the greenway. Certain areas of the Green Way could be designated for this. There could be art festivals with booths lining the greenway on the sides. There could be community involvement events where local groups could set up booths to display what they have to offer people ...more »
I was walking down the Aldridge Creek Greenway today and was thinking how nice it would be to have some type of festival or community event along the greenway. Certain areas of the Green Way could be designated for this. There could be art festivals with booths lining the greenway on the sides. There could be community involvement events where local groups could set up booths to display what they have to offer people ie Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Churches, VFW, Boys & Girls Clubs, Botanical Garden, User groups etc. You could have 5K or short runs. Its practically unlimited what you could do on it. Maybe a Green Way Yard sale along it. I can see lots of different things going on there.
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I ride bikes on Aldridge Creek and Indian Creek Greenways a lot. I'm constantly frustrated by the walkers who insist on walking in the bike lane. These are nice people and I'm sure they are frustrated by the narrow space provided by the walkers. Here's my compromise. Move the white strip to the center of the paved lane. Walk and Ride on the right. Pass on the left. Bikes should yield to pedestrians. When ...more »
I ride bikes on Aldridge Creek and Indian Creek Greenways a lot. I'm constantly frustrated by the walkers who insist on walking in the bike lane. These are nice people and I'm sure they are frustrated by the narrow space provided by the walkers.
Here's my compromise. Move the white strip to the center of the paved lane. Walk and Ride on the right. Pass on the left. Bikes should yield to pedestrians. When the green-way gets busy, the walkers (2-3 abreast) need more room. North and South bound walkers need space to pass, so of course they move into the bike lane. Of course there are also bikers trying to pass too.
So everyone is confused about where to walk and ride, because when it gets busy, there is chaos.
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Use abandoned land and post industrial sites to crate eco districts. Require all the buildings to be LEED certified with in these zones.
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