School will be out soon, with families trying to find ways to get outside and enjoy the beautiful Alabama weather. North Jefferson has a wide variety of outdoor parks to choose from; most are just a short drive from where you are right at this moment.

Fultondale’s Black Creek Park

Fultondale offers Black Creek Park. Black Creek Park is often full of friendly faces out for a stroll, hike, or even run on one of the many nature trails. One of the most beautiful trails follows a 3-mile rail back through the woods. Black Creek has a pavilion capable of seating up to 100 people and is often the venue of summer concerts from local bands. Well-maintained ballparks bunt up next to the children’s play area. A children’s park filled with animal-themed statues and bright playground equipment provides hours of entertainment for little ones of all ages. Large trees with lush canopies keep the sun at bay and make excellent spots for relaxing with a book. Restrooms and picnic tables are also close by. A Bark Park gives our four-legged friends a place to run and jump. Outside the Bark Park, dogs must be kept on a leash. Black Creek provides a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Gardendale’s Celebration and G William Noble Park

Gardendale is known for the beautiful Celebration Park. An outdoor recreation and nature preserve. An interactive splash pad for kids with skid protection in the play area. Swings, slides, climbing bars, running areas, and lots of cool places to find things to do. Pavilions and picnic areas are available for rent to celebrate birthdays and baby showers. Or just a family get-together. Tennis courts, soccer fields, and the much-needed restrooms are also part of the park. It’s always a celebration at Celebration Park.

Gardendale also has G. William Noble Park off of Moncrief Road. Big plans and a 27 million dollar budget will help transform this park to life some time this year. The transformation of the Recreation Complex into a state-of-the-art facility is part of the upgrade. The park will become an economic development engine on the weekends, bringing visitors and money to the city.

Kimberly’s Park Avenue

Kimberly has a well-visited park located on Park Avenue. There is a kiddie park right next to the main park. Nice and well maintained, the park is full of playground equipment for kids. If you want to kick the ball around, there is also a soccer field. Go out for a stroll and let the kids romp in the sunshine.

Local Honorable Mentions

Turkey Creek Preserve is part of North Jefferson that we often forget about. A hidden gem of rustling water with trails and hiking galore. The preserve is family and dog friendly. It does have standard hours, so be sure to work that into your plans. It provides a variety of short and long hiking trails and a bubbling creek that is great fun for a relaxing getaway. When you visit Turkey Creek, you understand how we became known as Alabama the Beautiful.

Rickwood Caverns State Park is only 7 miles from Warrior. While Warrior does have a city park, a visit to Rickwood Caverns is always a plus. It’s a Natural History Preserve located on 380 acres with tours of the stunning caverns with illuminated limestone formations over 360 million years old. They also have blind fish! A relaxing afternoon, beautiful sights and a science lesson rolled into one.

Parks offer so much fun, primarily for free. Each community has one to offer. Check out your area and see if there are others we’ve missed. There are many ideas for outdoor activities; use your imagination and try a local park.

Sometimes all you need is a short walk and some fresh air.