Birmingham, Ala. commences a $5.9 million drainage project on 26th Street South with ARPA funds. Nearby in Jasper, Walker County Public Fishing Lake undergoes upgrades with new facilities, event space and amenities to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities.
City of Birmingham photo
Crews in Birmingham, Ala. have started work on drainage improvements to ease historic flooding issues on 26th Street South and Caldwell Park in the city’s Highland Park neighborhood.
Crews in Birmingham, Ala. have started work on drainage improvements to ease historic flooding issues on 26th Street South and Caldwell Park in the city's Highland Park neighborhood.
The estimated $5.9 million construction project is supported through the city's capital budget and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
The drainage upgrades will advance in phases, municipal officials said in a news release on June 11, 2025. Initial work will take place along 26th Street South between Red Mountain Expressway and 10th Avenue South before eventually ending at Highland Avenue. Construction will be ongoing until summer 2026.
Motorists traveling in the construction area should expect travel delays, according to the city.
The effort is just the latest drainage mitigation repair project that Birmingham has tackled in the last five years across the city.
During that time, it has invested more than $7 million to improve drainage issues at multiple sites, including the 6th Avenue South viaduct, Norwood Boulevard, North Birmingham and Center Place South, all of which have been completed.
Several other drainage projects are in various stages of work, including 41st Street North, Hooper City and Montclair Road. Additional flood mitigation and upgrades, totaling more than $20 million, have been included in various capital and street resurfacing projects.
City officials have also been working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in an advisory capacity to address resources for drainage challenges that are being felt now more often in Birmingham and other cities across the country.
Improvements Coming to Walker County Public Fishing Lake
Officials with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) joined local leaders in the town of Jasper on June 5, 2025, to announce planned renovations at the popular Walker County Public Fishing Lake.
According to the state agency, the improvements will include upgrades to the entrance road and parking lot leading to the lake, as well as new restrooms and concessions areas, an entry gate and the construction of a new event space.
"The department manages 23 public fishing lakes throughout the state," said Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the ADCNR. "The improvements here at Walker County Lake show how these community venues can provide outdoor recreation for multiple user groups. While these renovations will certainly improve the experience of those who fish at the lake, the walking trails, birding tower, archery range, meeting facility and other amenities will make this a special place for all residents of this area."
Construction of the new events space is considered the centerpiece of the lake park's renovations, the ADCNR noted in a news release on its website, adding that the space will be available for a variety of community events.
Among the other state and local government leaders that attended the announcement and voiced support for the project were Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed, state Rep. Matt Woods and Jasper City Council member Jenny Brown Short.
"I am excited about the future of Walker County Lake," Woods said at the event. "The new facilities will include a great space to host meetings and events that can benefit everyone in our community. This is a wise investment in outdoor recreation for our region, and I appreciate the Department of Conservation committing the necessary resources to bring this project forward. Once completed, we will have modern facilities that are on par with our state parks."
The 163-acre Walker County Public Fishing Lake is located 3 mi. southeast of Jasper at 4227 Walker County Lake Rd. It is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, crappie and hybrid striped bass.
"This announcement is the result of years of collaboration, commitment and belief in what Walker County Lake could become," Short said. "Local groups and volunteers laid the groundwork through countless projects that showed just how much our community values this lake. I'm deeply grateful to … all of our state leaders for recognizing that work and choosing to invest in us. Their support is a powerful reflection of what can happen when communities come together with a shared vision."
Trout fishing at the lake park is scheduled to begin Nov. 28, 2025, according to the ADCNR.
Also known as Outdoor Alabama, the state agency promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.
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