Kiwanis Club of Birmingham To Expand Vulcan Park And ...visitvulcan.com/.../FINAL_Kiwanis...presskit-email.pdf · FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 15, 2016 Contact: Darcie Plowden/[email protected]

Kiwanis Club of Birmingham To Expand Vulcan Park And Develop 2-Mile Trail Connection

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— Today at a luncheon meeting with Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. and

the Birmingham City Council in attendance, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham and its 500-

plus members unveiled plans to enhance Vulcan’s role as the heart of a new and dynamic

Birmingham to celebrate the club’s 100th-year anniversary.

At the Kiwanis Club’s meeting on Nov. 15 at noon at the Harbert Center, Club President

Tom Thagard along with Mayor Bell detailed the expansive project budgeted at $4 million.

“Supporting and strenghtening our city has always been the mission of the Kiwanis

Club of Birmingham. Invigorating Vulcan’s role as the unifying symbol of Birmingham

is fitting for our club’s Centennial Project. We hope that it will serve as a catalyst for

renovation, rejuvenation and transformation for a new Birmingham,” Thagard said. “Major

public improvements are nothing new to the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham. We have a rich

history of advancing the civic spirit and improving the infrastructure of our city,” Thagard

added.

The Kiwanis Centennial Project in cooperation with Vulcan Park and Museum,

Freshwater Land Trust, and the City of Birmingham will have three components:

• The north side of Vulcan Park is in significant disrepair, so the first component

will reconnect Vulcan to Downtown Birmingham physically. This will include

landscaping the north side of the park, renovation of the lower piazza entrance

and building steps for walking access from the north side to the statue itself. This

municipal/event space will be known as Kiwanis Centennial Park.

• The second component will be a 2-mile jogging and biking trail that will extend to

Green Springs Highway and serve as the future hub for the planned 750 miles of

Birmingham’s Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System.

• The third component will be a dynamic, multi-colored light show designed by

Schuler Shook and projected onto Vulcan each night to enhance and project the

image of Birmingham’s icon.

“We are thankful for the Kiwanis club’s dedication to community service and look

forward to this partnership’s impact on the community. Vulcan is a significant attraction

for our City and we look forward to laying the groundwork for the next 100 years of

Kiwanians, Vulcan visitors and the residents of the City of Birmingham,” Mayor Bell said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 15, 2016Contact: Darcie Plowden/[email protected]

Office 205-251-0032/Cell 205-317-6802

2016-2017 OFFICERSPresident

Thomas W. Thagard, IIIAttorney/Shareholder –

Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC

Immediate Past PresidentNelson S. Bean

President & CEO/First Commercial Bank

2017-2018 President-ElectDonna D. Smith

VP – Human Resources & Ethics/Alabama Power

Company (Retired)

SecretaryJames L. Noles, Jr.

Attorney/Partner – Balch & Bingham, LLP

Immediate Past SecretaryJake McKenzie

CEO – Intermark Group

TreasurerLarry B. Pirkle, III

CPA – Warren Averett

Assistant TreasurerKelly J. Todd

CPA – Forensic Strategic Solutions

2016-2017 DIRECTORSVictor M. Brown

William “Bill” E. HortonSam “Skip” Donnell, III

Paul R. JohnsonKate Cotton

Margaret Ann PyburnCardwell Feagin David SilversteinS. Perry Given, Jr.

Terry SmileyLinda A. Friedman

Larry Thornton

Kiwanis Club of BirmingamThe Harbert Center

2019 4th Avenue NorthBirmingham, AL 35203

P: 205-251-0032

—MORE—


Office 205-251-0032/Cell 205-317-6802



P: 205-251-0032

Vulcan Park and the Kiwanis Club are tied together through the decades with KCOB as

the key driver behind the creation of Vulcan Park as a unifying symbol of the city’s can-do

spirit in the 1930s.

“In addition to enhancing Vulcan’s prominence on the skyline, this visionary project

will physically connect Vulcan as the central hub from which locals and tourists will access

our cultural institutions and parks. As our community recognizes the significant and

varied contributions of the Kiwanis Club in its 100 year history, Vulcan Park Foundation

is extremely grateful for the Club’s continued commitment to its legacy of transformative

parks projects.,” said Darlene Negrotto, President & CEO of Vulcan Park and Museum.

A critical aspect of the Kiwanis Centennial Project is the creation of the Kiwanis

Centennial Park/Vulcan Trail connecting many existing trails in Birmingham, Homewood

and Mountain Brook. Most importantly it will serve as the hub for the planned 750 miles of

Birmingham’s Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System.

“Kiwanis’ Centennial Project enables us to be a better connected community. The trail

connection from Vulcan Park to Green Springs Highway is the vital backbone of the Red

Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System. We are so grateful to the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham

for their vision and gift of a project that not only highlights our beloved Vulcan, but also

gives us a way to be outdoors, together,” said Libba Vaughan, Executive Director of

Freshwater Land Trust.

This type of large-scale public project harkens back to the 1920s when club members

brought in the landscape design firm of the Olmsted Brothers, whose father (Frederick Law

Olmsted) had designed New York’s Central Park, to create a comprehensive park system

connecting the many neighborhoods of Birmingham. Many of those public green spaces—

including Avondale Park, Linn Park, the Birmingham Zoo and Birmingham Botanical

Gardens, to name but a few—still exist today.

Kiwanis Club of Birmingham will celebrate 100 years of service in Birmingham in 2017.

The 500-plus strong membership of the group that meets weekly at the Harbert Center

is proud to be the largest and one of the oldest Kiwanis Clubs in the world. Attracting

business leaders across professions gives KCOB a wealth of talent to pour into its civic

projects impacting our city.

—XXX—








Company (Retired)














Larry Thornton

QUICK FACTSKiwanis Club of BirminghamCentennial Project

WHAT: The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham (KCOB) announces plans to enhance Vulcan’s role as the heart of a new and dynamic Birmingham with a major improvement project to celebrate the club’s 100th-year anniversary.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:

• Reconnect Vulcan to Downtown Birmingham both visually and physically• Create Kiwanis Centennial Park, a municipal park/event space for community-wide use

and revenue generation• Complete Kiwanis Centennial Park/Vulcan Trail to Green Springs Highway to serve as

the hub of Birmingham’s entire trail system• Illuminate Vulcan at night to create a new postcard image for Birmingham

WHEN: A ground-breaking ceremony is planned for May 2017, the club’s centennial month.

WHERE: Vulcan Park and the Kiwanis Club are tied together through the decades making it a fitting remembrance as a gift back to our beloved city of Birmingham to mark the club’s 100th anniversary. KCOB was the key driver behind the creation of Vulcan Park. In the 1930s, club leaders worked to secure the location and bring the cast iron man to the top of Red Mountain as a unifying symbol of the city’s can-do spirit.

GET TO KNOW KIWANIS CLUB OF BIRMINGHAM

• Founded in 1917 when Birmingham was young, KCOB has served as a quiet catalyst for progress in the city for more than a century, uniting a diverse group of business, civic and community leaders to move Birmingham forward.

• KCOB is the cornerstone of Kiwanis International and the largest club in the world with 500-plus members representing a diverse group of business leaders from a variety of professions.

• The club’s motto is “We build. By Serving.” Through outreach programs focusing on youth development and recognition, club members are dedicated to providing an ever-improving quality of life for all children, and to securing for future generations unlimited opportunities for service.

• KCOB brings members together weekly to discuss important topics of the day and address initiatives for the future.








Company (Retired)














Larry Thornton



P: 205-251-0032

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 15, 2016Contact: Darcie Plowden, Director of Communications

205-251-0032 or [email protected]








Company (Retired)














Larry Thornton



P: 205-251-0032

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 15, 2016Contact: Darcie Plowden, Director of Communications

205-251-0032 or [email protected]

PROJECT DETAILSKiwanis Club of BirminghamCentennial Project

GOAL: A civic gift to Birmingham to celebrate the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham’s 100th-year of commitment to the civic leadership and public infrastructure of Birmingham.

GIFT: To support our city’s new and dynamic image, KCOB plans to invigorate Vulcan’s role as the unifying symbol of Birmingham in celebration of the club’s 100th-year anniversary. Kiwanis’ Centennial Project will help reconnect and unify our city. We hope that it will serve as a catalyst for renovation, rejuvenation and transformation for a new Birmingham.

HISTORY: • Our Club was instrumental in originally creating Birmingham’s park system in the

1920s when its members hired the Olmstead Brothers, whose father designed Central Park in New York. The Olmstead Brothers designed a comprehensive park system for Birmingham, and many of these parks are still in use today, including Avondale Park, East Lake Park, Elyton Park, George Ward Park, Linn Park, the Zoo and Botanical Gardens to name just a few.

• And then, 10 years later, our Club spearheaded the effort to move Vulcan to the top of Red Mountain where he has stood as the majestic symbol of Birmingham ever since.

PROJECT SPECIFICS: Now, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham has plans to refresh and revitalize our City’s Icon. This project will have three components.• The north side of Vulcan Park is in significant disrepair, so the first component will

reconnect Vulcan to Downtown Birmingham physically. This will include landscaping the north side of the park, renovation of the lower piazza entrance and building steps for walking access from the north side to the statue itself. This municipal/event space will be known as Kiwanis Centennial Park.

• The second component will be a 2-mile jogging and biking trail that will extend to Green Springs Highway and serve as the future hub for the planned 750 miles of Birmingham’s Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System.

• The third component will be a dynamic, multi-colored light show designed by Schuler Shook and projected onto Vulcan each night to will enhance and project the image of Birmingham’s icon.

Budgeted Cost:• The project will cost $4,000,000.• Kiwanis plans to raise all of this money from individual member contributions, corporate

and civic foundation contributions and easement contributions from the Freshwater Land Trust.

ABOUT VULCAN PARK AND MUSEUMVulcan, Birmingham, Alabama’s colossal icon is the world’s largest cast iron statue

and considered one of the most memorable works of civic art in the United States.

Designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti and cast from local iron for the 1904 St.

Louis World’s Fair, Vulcan has stood for Birmingham for 112 years.

After years of exposure on top of Red Mountain, the 50-ton statue was in desperate need of repair.

Realizing Vulcan’s importance to the region’s history, Vulcan Park Foundation was formed in 1999 to

oversee a master plan to return this massive statue to his 1904 grandeur.

Thanks to public-private partnerships and a $15.5 million campaign, this beloved symbol of

Birmingham and the nation’s iron and steel industry stands preserved and proud as the centerpiece

of its rehabilitated and expanded park, known as Vulcan Park and Museum.

When Vulcan Park and Museum opened in 2004, one comprehensive mission was crafted to lay the

groundwork for the future of the organization and to pave the way for its enormous potential:

To preserve and promote Vulcan as the symbol for the Birmingham region, to advance knowledge

and understanding of Birmingham’s history and culture, and to encourage exploration of the region.

True to this mission, the dynamic educational park interprets Alabama’s rich industrial history for

both residents and visitors from across the globe. It is the only comprehensive history museum in the

region and serves as a unique resource for thousands of school children, teachers, and visitors. They

come expecting only to see a big iron statue, but, after experiencing the inspirational complex and

participating in the Learning edVentures educational programs, leave with a deeper appreciation and

pride for our amazing city, its rich heritage, and its promising future.

Vulcan Park and Museum’s energetic community outreach events invite the public to experience

the home of the “original iron man” in a fun and unique way. Vulcan’s Birthday Bash, Thunder on

the Mountain, the Vulcan Aftertunes fall concert series, and The Vulcans Community Awards are

only a few staple events that allow Vulcan Park Foundation to expand on its mission throughout the

region. Additionally, Vulcan steps off his pedestal in numerous ventures: the plush Vulcan mascot,

“V,” charms crowds at external community events and the newest project, the “Vulcans on Parade”

community art project inspires artistic exploration of our local cultural institutions.

Vulcan is not only a statue on a pedestal but, in the hearts of many, a true symbol of unity.








Company (Retired)














Larry Thornton



P: 205-251-0032


Office 205-251-0032/Cell 205-317-6802

ABOUT FRESHWATER LAND TRUSTThe Fresh wa ter Land Trust is a non profit orga ni za tion whose mis sion is the

acquisi tion and stew ard ship of lands that enhance water qual ity and pre serve

open space. Since 1996, the group has worked to acquire, con serve, and con-

nect lands that are crit i cal for the pro tec tion of rivers and streams and that

pro vide recre ational oppor tu ni ties for the community. The Fresh wa ter Land Trust owns and man ages

more than 5,000 acres, mak ing it one of the largest own ers of pri vate nature pre serves in the state

of Alabama. With its many part ners, the group has helped pro tect more than 10,000 acres through out

Cen tral Alabama.

The Fresh wa ter Land Trust is based in Birm ing ham, Ala., and works to pre serve the places that

matter in Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Jef fer son, Shelby, St. Clair, Walker and Tuscaloosa coun ties. It is

nation ally accred ited by the Land Trust Accred i ta tion Com mis sion, a mark of dis tinc tion that indi cates

it meets national stan dards of excel lence, upholds the pub lic trust and ensures con ser va tion efforts

are permanent. With a dedicated Board of Directors and trained staff, the Fresh wa ter Land Trust is

well equipped to use its extensive conservation toolbox to assist landowners interested in preserving

their land’s con ser va tion val ues, such as fam ily farms and work ing forests, scenic views, his tor i cal

sites, pub lic recre ation, and nat ural habi tats for rare plants and animals.








Company (Retired)














Larry Thornton



P: 205-251-0032


Office 205-251-0032/Cell 205-317-6802

ABOUT SCHULER SHOOKSchuler Shook was founded in 1986 by partners Duane Schuler and

Robert Shook. The original offices in Chicago and Minneapolis were

supplemented in 2001 with the addition of a Dallas office and in 2009 with the addition of an office in

Melbourne, Australia. The firm has grown to over 35 full time employees with the consultants coming

from backgrounds as diverse as architectural lighting, electrical engineering, theatrical lighting, and

interior design. Schuler Shook is deeply committed to sustainability, and many of its consultants

maintain their standing as LEED® Accredited Professionals. The firm's work takes it to nearly every

continent, and its projects range from intimate to epic.

Schuler Shook is committed to achieving the highest level of design and integration possible. It

strives to understand the goals of the architect and the client by developing lighting design solutions

that support both function and design at the highest level. Schuler Shook is experienced in virtually

every project type, including offices, healthcare, restaurants, hotels, casinos, museums, theatres,

places of worship, parks, and exterior landscaping and facades. They are experts in providing

sustainable lighting solutions that do not compromise design creativity or lighting quality. Schuler

Shook gives strong consideration to maintenance, constructability, and budget. The firm maintains

a sophisticated lighting lab to test potential solutions with full size mock-ups during the design

process. The approach has resulted in numerous award-winning projects that have been recognized

by the AIA, IALD, IESNA, and other organizations. Schuler Shook lighting designs are compelling,

innovative, and meticulously detailed and integrated.

ABOUT SCHULER SHOOK PARTNER JIM BAN EY IALD,IES ,L C.LEED APJim Baney has a passion for lighting architecture. As a Partner in the Chicago office, he is responsible

for ensuring the high quality design standards that are synonymous with Schuler Shook. Jim's

award-winning lighting designs encompass a wide range of project types including museums,

houses of worship,retail, hospitality, building facades, city streetscapes,

transportation facilities and corporate offices. Jim enjoys the challenge of crafting sustainable

lighting solutions that meet client requirements and fit the unique architectural character of each

project. Jim has addressed multiple professional organizations and tradeshows including the AIA,

IES, IALD, Greenbuild, Lightfair, and Neocon. He has also guest lectured for the Illinois Institute of

Technology, The University of Illinois-Chicago, and Andrews University.








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Larry Thornton



P: 205-251-0032


Office 205-251-0032/Cell 205-317-6802

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Kiwanis Club of Birmingham and Mayor Bell To Announce Major Community Improvement Project

ANNOUNCEMENT SET FOR NOV. 15 AT NOON

AT THE HARBERT CENTER IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SPEECH BY

THE COMMISSIONER OF U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham and its 500-plus members will

unveil a major community development project for the City of Birmingham to mark the

club’s 100th-year anniversary with full support from Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. and the

Birmingham City Council.

At the Kiwanis Club’s meeting on Nov. 15 at noon at the Harbert Center, Club President

Tom Thagard along with Mayor Bell will detail the extensive project. The much-awaited

announcement will follow a speech by R. Gil Kerlikowske, Commissioner of the U.S.

Customs and Border Protection.

“Major public improvements are nothing new to the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham. We

have a rich history of advancing the civic spirit and improving the infrastructure of our

city,” Thagard said.

In the 1920s, club members brought in the landscape design firm of the Olmsted

Brothers, whose father (Frederick Law Olmsted) had designed New York’s Central Park, to

create a comprehensive park system connecting the many neighborhoods of Birmingham.

Many of those public green spaces—including Avondale Park, Linn Park, the Birmingham

Zoo and Birmingham Botanical Gardens, to name but a few—still exist today. Kiwanis was

also the key driver behind the creation of Vulcan Park. In the 1930s, club leaders worked

to secure the location and bring the cast iron man to the top of Red Mountain as a unifying

symbol of the city’s can-do spirit.

Kiwanis Club of Birmingham will celebrate 100 years of service in Birmingham in 2017.

The 500-plus strong membership of the group that meets weekly at the Harbert Center

is proud to be the largest and one of the oldest Kiwanis Clubs in the world. Attracting

business leaders across professions gives KCOB a wealth of talent to pour into its civic

projects impacting our city.

—XXX—


Office 205-251-0032/Cell 205-317-6802








Company (Retired)














Larry Thornton



P: 205-251-0032


Office 205-251-0032/Cell 205-317-6802








Company (Retired)














Larry Thornton



P: 205-251-0032

ABOUT THE KIWANIS CLUB OF BIRMINGHAMWe build. By serving.Founded in 1917 when Birmingham was young, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham (KCOB) has served as a quiet catalyst for progress in the city for more than a century, uniting a diverse group of business, civic and com-munity leaders to move Birmingham forward.

As the cornerstone of Kiwanis International and its largest club, the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham brings mem-bers together weekly to discuss important topics of the day and address initiatives for the future. Through outreach programs focusing on youth development and recognition, club members are dedicated to providing an ever-improving quality of life for all children, and to securing for future generations unlimited opportunities for service.

ABOUT R. GIL KERLIKOWSKE/COMMISSIONER, U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

R. Gil Kerlikowske was nominated by President Obama and sworn in on March 7, 2014, as Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection taking the helm of the 60,000-employee agency with a budget of $12.4 billion. He oversees the dual mission of protecting national security objectives while promoting economic prosperity and security.

As Commissioner, he runs the largest federal law enforcement agency and second largest revenue collecting source in the federal government. Most recently, he served as Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Mr. Kerlikowske brings four decades of law enforcement and drug policy experience to the position. He served in the U.S. Army where he was awarded the Presidential Service Badge. Mr. Kerlikowske holds a B.A. and a M.A. in criminal justice from the University of South Florida.


Office 205-251-0032/Cell 205-317-6802








Company (Retired)














Larry Thornton



P: 205-251-0032

1KIWANIS CLUB

OF BIRMINGHAM1917 – 2017

Y E A R S

Documents

Kiwanis Club of Birmingham To Expand Vulcan Park And ...visitvulcan.com/.../FINAL_Kiwanis...presskit-email.pdf · FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 15, 2016 Contact: Darcie Plowden/[email protected]