 Garden City's Scenic Bridges Filming location of Garth Brooks' video "I Don't Have to Wonder" |
Town of Garden City Meet
Garden City's Elected Officials! Books on Garden City's
history available now at GC Town Hall! |
|
|
Welcome to Garden City! Incorporated
first in 1878 and reincorporated in 1950, the Town of Garden City is
located just south of the City of Hanceville on U.S. Highway 31.
A small and scenic town, Garden City is bisected by the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River, a favorite destination of whitewater enthusiasts throughout the country and home to the annual Mulberry Fork Races, the second leg of the Alabama Cup. Amateurs and professionals alike flock to the Mulberry in the hundreds each March for the races, and the river has also been used by kayakers as a training ground for the Olympic games. Perhaps the most noteworthy landmarks in Garden City are the two bridges that span the Mulberry Fork near U.S. 31. Pictured above and left, the old Highway 31 Bridge and the CSX train trestle located nearby have long been a favored subject for photographers and artists and were even chosen as the backdrop for a video by country music superstar Garth Brooks, who shot the video for "I Don't Have to Wonder" in the town in November of 1997. One of the major upcoming projects for the town stems from a longstanding wish to further utilize the valuable resources represented by the river and its bridges. Mayor Harden Davis and the Garden City Town Council are currently in the planning stages of a recreational trail and park that will allow both citizens and visitors to enjoy the river and the area's natural beauty more fully. "That's one of the great things about this project," Mayor Davis said. "Right now, it's hard for the people of Garden City and others to get to the river as much of the surrounding area is privately owned property. This will give us a significant amount of waterfront. I also want to stress that this park and recreational trail will be available not only to the Town of Garden City but for the entire surrounding area. We want to build something everyone can enjoy." The improvements to the site, which will cover 20-25 acres, will include a 1.5 mile recreational trail; a canoe/kayak launch; benches, picnic tables, pavilions, primitive campsites; a mini-park with a playground for children; outdoor classrooms; bathrooms and dressing rooms; and parking space. Work has begun on the mini-park, which is expected to be completed in 6 months' time. Davis said, however, that the project will be ongoing. He expects the trail to take a year or more to complete and the entire project to last up to four years. Further improvements may include RV hookups, docks for fishing, a bicycle trail, lighting for the recreation trail, cabins and other amenities. Plans are also underway for a community center and emergency shelter to be constructed behind the current town hall. Although planning is still in the early stages, town officials are working toward a center that will be some 140ft. x 80 ft. in size and will include a kitchen facility, bathrooms, a generator and possibly a helipad to accommodate Med-Evac services for Garden City and the surrounding area. Garden City has many acres of land available for industrial development including at least two sites with existing buildings that can be remodeled to suit the particular needs of an industry wishing to locate in the town. Garden City's largest and most recently acquired industry, Morton Buildings, is also in the process of developing an industrial park adjacent to their large manufacturing facility. Garden City is unabashedly a sleepy little town, its population numbering approximately 595 according to the 2000 census. Mayor Davis does not see this as a detriment, however. "We're a quiet town," he said. "One thing that makes us uncommon, though, is the strong sense of community here. We all fellowship with one another ... the churches all get together for Thanksgiving and Easter festivities. We're one big group. Everyone got together for our September 11th Remembrance Program, which we're making into an annual event, and we recently held a community campout that was attended by many of the townspeople. "Garden City is a very unique place. My prediction is that we're on the verge of growing." For more information on Garden City, contact the Town of Garden City at P.O. Box 172, Garden City, AL 35070 or call (256) 352-5408. You may also contact the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce at 211 Second Avenue NE, Cullman, AL 35055 or at (256) 734-0454; or contact the Cullman County Economic Development Office at 611 First Avenue SW, Cullman, AL 35055 or at (256) 775-4696. |
