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“From the start, our goal has been to honor the legacy of the J.O. Johnson Jaguars, while creating a neighborhood where people want to live, play, and raise their families,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “Legacy Park, in conjunction with Johnson Legacy Center (JLC), achieves that. It is a crowning jewel for Northwest Huntsville.”
In late June 2023, the City of Huntsville celebrated the opening of the new Legacy Park. Located off 6000 Cecil Fain Drive, where the former J.O. Johnson High School closed in 2016, the new park is a multipurpose arts, entertainment, and outdoor recreation site. The Fitness Court® at Legacy Park marks the second for the City of Huntsville, with the first Keith Haring Fitness Court® opening in 2019 at John Hunt Park.
Legacy Park has walking trails, a children’s playground, spacious parking, and two entertainment pavilions, one of which comes complete with terraced seating. The main attraction, and the focal point right at the entrance of the new $4.6 million park, sits the city’s second Fitness Court® featuring a lively mural painted by local artist Jamal FRESKO Turner.
“Legacy Park was designed with the community in mind. We can see multiple generations using this space for years to come. Whether it’s an afternoon at the playground, an after-dinner walk or a get-together with family and friends, Legacy Park is a place where memories will be made,” - James Gossett, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Huntsville during his opening remarks at the ribbon-cutting event.
Following additional remarks from Mayor Tommy Battle, Turner and Sophie Martin, Director of Corporate Communications and Community Relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the ribbon was officially cut and nearly 200 community members in attendance were able to see live demonstrations of all seven stations of the Fitness Court® and try it out for themselves!
Since the successful ribbon cutting which saw dozens of local TV, radio and online features, the Fitness Court® at Legacy Park is seeing steady use on a daily basis. Connected directly to the walking path in the neighborhood, residents are leveraging the Fitness Court® as the free alternative to the paid Fitness Center further down the trail.
Image Credits to City of Huntsville & Fox54 News
