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New Central Park Playground
Oh no, are we losing our beloved caterpillar? That seems to be on most people's minds as they learn about the new construction planned at the Central Park playground. Whether you have climbed it... or have fallen off of it, we all have wonderful memories of the caterpillar. Rest assured it won't be going away, but it will be used in a slightly different setting.
The City of Homewood approved close to $1 million dollars in this years budget to remove the old equipment and mulch to make way for a new overall play area. New equipment to be added will be a Ninja course that is meant to have kids and parents enjoying together, swing sets, play structures for all ages that are ADA compliant, a gaga pit, and other types of equipment, all providing much needed shade!
One of the biggest changes will be the surface the kids play on. It is what is called "playground grass" that is ADA compliant, accessible to wheelchairs and crutches. It is a more consistently safe and durable surface with antimicrobial properties to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the turf. It contains XStatic™ antistatic technology built into the blades which removes the chance of static shock.
When it comes to accessing the area, left in place will be the familiar pillars around the edge. The change will be one small opening, instead of a gate, that flows into the park itself.
When will it be closed?
Construction begins as early as
Tuesday, January 15th. Once demolition work begins the playground area will be closed to the public until it is finished. Depending on weather, it is slated to be complete by mid-March.
The rest of the park will remain open.
And so what about the caterpillar? Unfortunately, it is not compliant with current playground codes that the city must abide by. As this is an iconic part of our community, we have no plans of it being discarded. It will be repurposed as something visible in the park. The decision as to what that exactly may be hasn't been decided yet, but we will update everyone once that plan is in place.
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Beginning April 1—no, this isn’t an April Fools' joke—Homewood’s 911 call center will officially switch over to Shelby County 911. But don’t worry, calling 911 will still work the same way! If you have an emergency and need police, fire, or an ambulance, dial 911 , and help will come just like it always has. The only difference is that calls will now be handled by Shelby County’s system, which will help first responders get to people even faster. The City of Homewood will still have its non-emergency number, 205-332-6200 . Plus, the fire department will now share a dispatch center with nearby cities, which means they can work together better when there’s a big fire. The new system can handle lots of calls at once, so during big storms or major events, more people can get help quickly. So yes, this change starts on April Fools’ Day, but it’s no prank—just a better way to keep Homewood safe!
Council Meeting Highlights, March 31, 2025 Item 06.02.25: Council approved a request for consideration of an unsolicited proposal regarding the old Police Headquarters. Developer Mike Mouron presented the idea of turning the site into a steakhouse, surrounded by a walkable, family-friendly park. This approval now means plans will move forward on this development. There will be rezoning development plans that will still have to come before the city to be approved. Te property has been vacant for a long time, and that not only is this developer offering to do this with no incentives, he will also foot the bill to build the park that will remain city property. Item 04.03.25: The council approved allowing the mayor to sign a contract with EDT, Inc. for design services to plan a new crosswalk and parking layout at the main downtown intersection. The city will also replace the blinking lights with stop signs. Item 06.03.25: Council approved an Ordinance to prevent parking at the Saulter pocket park for non-park visitors. There will now be a time limit you can be parked there and it will be enforceable for police. 19.03.25 Council approved a request to hire an Executive Assistant Position (Administrative Analyst) to assist Glen Adams, the new city manager. This will be funded through the general fund Agenda: https://bit.ly/4lbE9n5 Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.
Heads up! As part of the stormwater project currently in-progress, Kenilworth Drive at Ridge Road will be closed for about two weeks, tentatively starting around March 31 . During this time, if you're heading up the hill on Kenilworth, you'll have to turn left onto Ridge Road. Only the folks in the first two houses on Crest Drive can access Kenilworth, and anyone coming from Ridge Road must turn right onto Kenilworth. Be sure to plan your route accordingly!
Finance Highlights 03/17/25 Item 06.02.25: Committee approved a request for consideration of an unsolicited proposal regarding the old Police Headquarters. Developer Mike Mouron has floated the idea of turning the site into a steakhouse, surrounded by a walkable, family-friendly park. There was a lot of discussion about whether or not other entities should be allowed to offer a design or solution for this piece of land. Mayor Wyatt explained how the property has been vacant for a long time, and that not only is this developer offering to do this with no incentives, he will also foot the bill to build the park that will remain city property. The council will now discuss this at the next council meeting March 31, 2025 at 6:00pm. Item 04.03.25: The committee approved allowing the mayor to sign a contract with EDT, Inc. for design services to plan a new crosswalk and parking layout at the main downtown intersection. The city will also replace the blinking lights with stop signs. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4kyKxVc Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA Watch the full video above to learn more about all the items presented.
Traffic Alert! Starting Tuesday, March 18, Lakeshore Blvd, in front of Brookwood Mall, will have daily lane closures from 9am to 3pm for about a week . Crews will be upgrading light signal loop detectors. Plan your commute accordingly.
Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) Meeting Highlights: March 12, 2025 Items 250301 & 250302: BZA members approved two sign variances for a new development in West Homewood. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3XQodMT Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.
Council Meeting Highlights, March 10, 2025 Item 20.02.25: Council approved a request to authorize the mayor to sign a contract with Trane through the end of fiscal year 2025 to cover maintenance. It does not require additional budget funding. Since replacing the old chiller—original to the building—City Hall has reduced annual electricity use by over 14%. The previous system was outdated and inefficient, struggling to keep up with demand. The new chiller, installed by crane, has significantly improved performance and energy efficiency. Since May 2024, the City has saved over $40,000 in energy costs. Despite a 6% increase in electricity rates, annual electricity costs have dropped by more than 8%. The updated control systems provide better management of heating and cooling, allowing for more precise adjustments by zone and time of day. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3FheybT Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.
Since May 2024, the city has saved over $40,000 in energy costs, even with a 6% increase in electricity rates. Replacing the aging chiller at City Hall has significantly improved efficiency, reducing energy use by more than 14% and lowering annual electricity costs by just over 8%. The new system, along with upgraded control features, allows for better energy management, ensuring heating and cooling are used more efficiently across different zones in the building. The original purchase of the chiller in 2023 included a year of free service, which ended in early fall of 2024. A new service agreement has been proposed to cover maintenance through the end of the current budget year, ending on September 30. The cost for the remaining six months is $12,120, with a quarterly payment of $4,040. Though initially believed to be included in the budget, the contract was not listed under the general fund’s contractual services. However, because this agreement only covers the period after the free service ended, it does not require additional budget funding. The finance committee has approved the agreement, and it will go before the full council for a vote on March 10 at 6pm. You can watch the report below, item 20.02.25.
During the Planning Commission meeting March 4, 2025, Samford University requested rezoning to accommodate a new community, Creekside, south of Lakeshore Drive near their campus. The development aims to create a livable, town square-style environment. Commission members told the applicant they would not support the item and suggested pausing to engage the public in further discussions so that they would have a better understanding of the project. In response, the applicant, Landmark Development, requested that the item be carried over until next month.
Planning Commission Highlights 03/04/25 Case 25.03.01: A request to rezone 8 Bonita Drive, comprising 0.46 acres, from its current zoning designation of NPD, Neighborhood Preservation District, to a C-2, Neighborhood Shopping District zoning classification to permit the construction of a two-story medical office building, containing a total of 7,160 sq. ft., for use by Alabama Pediatrics. The applicant is seeking to allow Alabama Pediatrics, a long-established, locally owned practice, to build a new facility that better meets their needs. The current building is aging, difficult to renovate, and not owned by them. The Planning Commission had a 0-5 negative vote with one abstention. This will now move to the full council to be considered. Cases 25.03.02 through 25.03.05: These items were requests for rezoning to accommodate a new community, Creekside, south of Lakeshore Drive near Samford University's campus. The development aims to create a livable, town square-style environment. There was a very large community response with many concerns. Colin Coyne, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Samford University, addressed the crowd and acknowledged the school’s past shortcomings as a neighbor, but emphasized that things have changed in the last few years. He made it clear they’re serious about being an active, engaged part of the community. He welcomed open conversations, promising to meet with anyone as long as needed to address concerns. With a background in environmental management, he recognized the community’s worries about traffic and sustainability, stressing that Samford has a responsibility to find real, lasting solutions—especially for watershed management along Shades Creek. He reassured residents that the university is committed to improving its properties, working with neighbors, and making decisions that align with both its academic and faith-based mission. Commission members told the applicant they would not support the item and suggested pausing to engage the public in further discussions so that they would have a better understanding of the project. In response, the applicant, Landmark Development, requested that the item be carried over until next month. MORE HERE Agenda: https://bit.ly/41EWSQ6 Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.
