2026 Privet Pull
Saturday, February 28 | 9am - 1pm
Help us remove non-native privet from Shoal Creek Park to help prevent it from outcompeting native species.
For details and to sign up, click here.
Help us remove non-native privet from Shoal Creek Park to help prevent it from outcompeting native species.
For details and to sign up, click here.
Save the Date for the 2026 Great Spring Bird Count
Celebrate the beauty of spring with Alabama Audubon
at Shoal Creek Park during the 2026 Great Spring Bird Count!
Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 7:00am-10am.
This exciting event welcomes birders of every skill level to join the fun and see how many feathered friends we can add to the park’s list in one unforgettable morning. Shoal Creek Park offers one of the Birmingham metro area’s most unique landscapes, where open grasslands and scrublands blend seamlessly with forested areas—creating the perfect haven for a wide variety of bird species. Participants will team up in one of three or four small groups, each guided by seasoned birders and naturalists, to explore the park for a couple of hours before regrouping at the pavilion to tally up our total species count.
This event is co-sponsored with Alabama Audubon.
at Shoal Creek Park during the 2026 Great Spring Bird Count!
Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 7:00am-10am.
This exciting event welcomes birders of every skill level to join the fun and see how many feathered friends we can add to the park’s list in one unforgettable morning. Shoal Creek Park offers one of the Birmingham metro area’s most unique landscapes, where open grasslands and scrublands blend seamlessly with forested areas—creating the perfect haven for a wide variety of bird species. Participants will team up in one of three or four small groups, each guided by seasoned birders and naturalists, to explore the park for a couple of hours before regrouping at the pavilion to tally up our total species count.
This event is co-sponsored with Alabama Audubon.
Fall 2025 Newsletter
Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile – William Cullen Bryant
Welcome to sweater weather! The leaves are changing colors, the sun shines through the trees with a softer glow and the sky radiates a rich shade of blue in the crisp, cool air. Fall is one of the best times of the year to experience the park.
On Saturday, October 18, the Shoal Creek Park Foundation partnered with Alabama Audubon on the The Great Fall Bird Count in which 23 birders of all levels of expertise (from none to a lot) identified 41 different bird species in the park. We’ll host another such event in the Spring. Stay tuned.
Much work has been put into the research of the primitive cemetery that exists in the park and it is now in the official listing of historic cemeteries in Alabama. Details on how to preserve and mark the location are being considered including adding a marker with an inscription that would memorialize those who are laid to rest there.
A Spring “privet pull” has been planned for February 28th of next year. We are looking for volunteers who would like to get involved with this effort to help clear the park of invasive plant species. We will be sending more details at the beginning of the year.
What is your favorite thing about Shoal Creek Park? What would you like to see changed/added? We want your input! In an effort to continue to honor the vision of a nature park, but to also get feedback from our friends who visit, please let us know your thoughts!
As we enter this season of gratitude, we are so thankful our community has a place to experience the gifts of Nature. Please come out to the park and enjoy all the wonders it has to offer. Hope to see you out there!
Welcome to sweater weather! The leaves are changing colors, the sun shines through the trees with a softer glow and the sky radiates a rich shade of blue in the crisp, cool air. Fall is one of the best times of the year to experience the park.
On Saturday, October 18, the Shoal Creek Park Foundation partnered with Alabama Audubon on the The Great Fall Bird Count in which 23 birders of all levels of expertise (from none to a lot) identified 41 different bird species in the park. We’ll host another such event in the Spring. Stay tuned.
Much work has been put into the research of the primitive cemetery that exists in the park and it is now in the official listing of historic cemeteries in Alabama. Details on how to preserve and mark the location are being considered including adding a marker with an inscription that would memorialize those who are laid to rest there.
A Spring “privet pull” has been planned for February 28th of next year. We are looking for volunteers who would like to get involved with this effort to help clear the park of invasive plant species. We will be sending more details at the beginning of the year.
What is your favorite thing about Shoal Creek Park? What would you like to see changed/added? We want your input! In an effort to continue to honor the vision of a nature park, but to also get feedback from our friends who visit, please let us know your thoughts!
As we enter this season of gratitude, we are so thankful our community has a place to experience the gifts of Nature. Please come out to the park and enjoy all the wonders it has to offer. Hope to see you out there!
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June 2025 Newsletter
A walk in nature walks the soul back home – Mary Davis
Hello Friends, just wanted to send an update on all the recent happenings at Shoal Creek Park.
We held our first birding walk on April 26th and it was a huge success! Between the two groups of birders, nearly 60 different species were identified. We will host another birding walk on Saturday, October 18 at 8:00am – stay tuned for more details.
Also, on April 26th we kicked off the Alabama 100 Miles Challenge with a 1 mile walk around the park. It’s not too late to get involved – visit https://100alabamamiles.org to get more information and join in the fun.
An Alabama native plant showcase has been implemented in the flower beds around the pavilion and walkway. The native plants are beneficial to the wildlife as well as the environment and will help contribute to a healthy and vibrant biodiversity in the park. Many thanks to volunteers Amy and Rachel for their hard work in making this transition a success.
In mid-June, educational archeological work began in the section of the park where the cemetery is located. Research was conducted by a team of archeologists from the University of Alabama as well as members of Upward Bound students and staff. You can read more about this initiative in the article from the Shelby County Reporter.
Also in June, area high school students participated in the Cahaba Riverkeeper Environmental Leadership program lead by board member and UM professor Dr. Kelly Wacker. This included hands-on activities as well as a presentation on topics of art, community, cooperation and environmental issues related to freshwater ecologies.
Be sure and add the next Tinglewood Festival on September 6th to your calendar and stop by our booth to say hi while you’re there!
In the meantime, come out to the park and dip your toes in the cool water . Enjoy the scenery and listen to the creek rippling over the shoals; breathe in some fresh air and drink in the beauty of our town’s nature oasis.
Happy Summer!
Hello Friends, just wanted to send an update on all the recent happenings at Shoal Creek Park.
We held our first birding walk on April 26th and it was a huge success! Between the two groups of birders, nearly 60 different species were identified. We will host another birding walk on Saturday, October 18 at 8:00am – stay tuned for more details.
Also, on April 26th we kicked off the Alabama 100 Miles Challenge with a 1 mile walk around the park. It’s not too late to get involved – visit https://100alabamamiles.org to get more information and join in the fun.
An Alabama native plant showcase has been implemented in the flower beds around the pavilion and walkway. The native plants are beneficial to the wildlife as well as the environment and will help contribute to a healthy and vibrant biodiversity in the park. Many thanks to volunteers Amy and Rachel for their hard work in making this transition a success.
In mid-June, educational archeological work began in the section of the park where the cemetery is located. Research was conducted by a team of archeologists from the University of Alabama as well as members of Upward Bound students and staff. You can read more about this initiative in the article from the Shelby County Reporter.
Also in June, area high school students participated in the Cahaba Riverkeeper Environmental Leadership program lead by board member and UM professor Dr. Kelly Wacker. This included hands-on activities as well as a presentation on topics of art, community, cooperation and environmental issues related to freshwater ecologies.
Be sure and add the next Tinglewood Festival on September 6th to your calendar and stop by our booth to say hi while you’re there!
In the meantime, come out to the park and dip your toes in the cool water . Enjoy the scenery and listen to the creek rippling over the shoals; breathe in some fresh air and drink in the beauty of our town’s nature oasis.
Happy Summer!
Spring 2025 Newsletter
Greetings from Shoal Creek Park Foundation! With the promise of Spring just around the corner, we wanted to take this opportunity to reach out and share recent news and upcoming activities going on at Montevallo's treasured nature park.
Birding - Join local experienced birders on April 26 at 7:00 am for an opportunity to view many of the birds that make Shoal Creek Park their home. All levels of experience are encouraged to participate. If interested, contact Ray Cavendar [email protected]. A donation is requested of $10-$20. The money goes toward keeping the park a birding paradise.
100 mile walk – log your miles at SCP when you sign up for the challenge. More information in the link. https://100alabamamiles.org/
If you haven’t been to the park over the winter, come out for a visit this Spring and explore the new crushed stone pathway. The last section is in its final stages and once completed, it will link the two bridges, pavilion, and loop through the old cemetery and back to the parking lot. This is a wonderful addition allowing more folks to access and enjoy the scenery along the banks of Shoal Creek.
Looking for an opportunity to volunteer? Do you love gardening? We are working on replacing the plants at the entrance of the park with native species that will complement the environment and help the natural ecosystem thrive. Let us know at [email protected] if you would like to be a part of this project or any future gardening endeavors.
As a friend of Shoal Creek Park, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to get involved to help keep our beloved park a safe haven for Nature and a retreat for you and your friends and family to enjoy!
Birding - Join local experienced birders on April 26 at 7:00 am for an opportunity to view many of the birds that make Shoal Creek Park their home. All levels of experience are encouraged to participate. If interested, contact Ray Cavendar [email protected]. A donation is requested of $10-$20. The money goes toward keeping the park a birding paradise.
100 mile walk – log your miles at SCP when you sign up for the challenge. More information in the link. https://100alabamamiles.org/
If you haven’t been to the park over the winter, come out for a visit this Spring and explore the new crushed stone pathway. The last section is in its final stages and once completed, it will link the two bridges, pavilion, and loop through the old cemetery and back to the parking lot. This is a wonderful addition allowing more folks to access and enjoy the scenery along the banks of Shoal Creek.
Looking for an opportunity to volunteer? Do you love gardening? We are working on replacing the plants at the entrance of the park with native species that will complement the environment and help the natural ecosystem thrive. Let us know at [email protected] if you would like to be a part of this project or any future gardening endeavors.
As a friend of Shoal Creek Park, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to get involved to help keep our beloved park a safe haven for Nature and a retreat for you and your friends and family to enjoy!
Shoal Creek Park named an Official Alabama Birding Site
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Thanks to the efforts of Joe Watts, Dee Woodham, the National Audubon Society Board of Directors. and the Alabama Audubon Society, SCP has been officially added to the Appalachian Highlands Trail. "From the forested hills of the Ridge and Valley region to the rich pastures and farmlands of its river-carved valleys, the Appalachian Highlands Birding Trail provides a wide diversity of habitats for birds, including the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Especially noteworthy for bird-lovers are the many rivers that flow through this region, including the Black Warrior, the Cahaba, the Coosa, and the Tallapoosa. Shoal Creek Park is a wonderful addition to the state-wide system of eight Alabama Birding Trails."
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Bluebirds and Wildflowers!March 30, 2020
Notes from Shoal Creek Park Blue Bird Team: We are a 5 member team who are authorized by the Park to monitor the blue bird houses on a weekly basis. During each visit members of the team record time of visit, temperature, weather conditions and any bird activity observed. The team will assess blue bird activity, in the park and will make recommendations to the SCP Board of Directors of any changes, additions etc. concerning bird house placement and care. We ask that visitors refrain from adding houses to the park or from disturbing the birdhouses in any way. We do encourage park visitors to take time to stop and watch the many birds found in the park and to listen to their songs during this Springtime. In the future we will partner with Alabama Audubon and have educational programs including bird walks and bird identification programs for adults and children. Please watch for the several wildflowers plots that have been planted in the park and we encourage visitors to enjoy them as they grow and bloom. Our plan is for these wildflowers plots to naturally re-seed; therefore picking wildflowers is discouraged.
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Betty Loop Tree SignsFebruary 23, 2020
Watch for these new signs that will identify the trees along the Betty Loop Trail that connects the 2 bridges along both sides of the creek. Thanks to Mike Hardig & Terry Arnold for identifying trees. Thanks to Gabby Wolodarski and Joe Arnold for creating the signs. |
KIOSKSThe Shoals Creek Park Foundation is working to add two kiosks, one at each bridge. These kiosks will be built by the county and will look similar to the one at the entrance (pictured here). They will contain a “you are here” map and historic photos.
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Grave marker for Elizabeth Teague Lawler in the family cemetery.
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CEMETERY RESTORATIONPlans are underway to restore the family cemetery at Perry Hall. First, the area will be cleaned out by hand. Next, ground penetrating radar will be used to find and then better mark the graves. We speculate that there was once a church at that site. The same technique with the radar will be used to try to locate its former site.
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HAWKS RELEASED
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Friends of the Montevallo Community, the University of Montevallo and officials gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Shoal Creek Park in March, 2019.
Also on hand was the Alabama Wildlife Center's Doug Adair, who brought two rehabilitated red tail hawks to be released on the property. |
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