After one visit, it is easy to see that Turkey Creek Nature Preserve is a treasure worth protecting. However, it has not always been that way. It has taken the efforts of countless individuals, over many years of hard work, to ensure that TCNP is preserved for future generations. Without their efforts, this treasure would have been lost forever!

S.T.A.R.T(Soci­ety to Advance the Resources at Turkey Creek)

In 1998,Jef­fer­son County pro­posed build­ing a prison at Turkey Creek, set­ting off a con­tro­versy. The peo­ple of Pin­son formed the Soci­ety To Advance the Resources at Turkey Creek (S.T.A.R.T.), which quickly gained 7,000 mem­bers. Between 1998 and 2003 S.T.A.R.T.  members (and partners from the Freshwater Land Trust) worked tirelessly to not only end the plans for a jail but also eventually lead to the State’s For­ever Wild Land Trust’s purchase and preservation of the proposed jail site. Today, this group’s enthusiasm and dedication is seen as one of THE most successful grass-root efforts of our time. For generations to come, visitors will enjoy the beauty of Turkey Creek all because of the efforts of this group of concerned citizens. Thank You S.T.A.R.T.!!

For more of the S.T.A.R.T. story check out TCNP Currents: A fresh S.T.A.R.T. for Turkey Creek Part 1

The Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College

In 2009, S.T.A.R.T, The Freshwater Land Trust, and Forever Wild partnered with partner with the Southern Environmental Center (SEC) at Birmingham-Southern College to establish an onsite environmental education and management position at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. This is were the rubber, truly meets the road. Through this partnership, the SEC provides long term planning, maintenance, security, and educational programing at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.Today, thousands of students engage in the hands-on environmental education programs at TCNP every year!

The Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College is the largest educational facility of its kind in Alabama and can handle groups of up to 100 visitors at a time. In addition to its award-winning Interactive Museum and EcoScape Gardens, the SEC is also active in the community. It has initiated a number of model partnerships targeting water quality, smog, and urban sprawl. Click here for directions to the SEC or here for a map of the BSC Campus.

The Freshwater Land Trust

The Fresh­wa­ter Land Trust, a Birm­ing­ham, Alabama– based non-profit orga­ni­za­tion, is ded­i­cated to pre­serv­ing Alabama land of excep­tional and irre­place­able nat­ural, cul­tural and recre­ational value, with a focus on pro­tect­ing lands that enhance water qual­ity in our rivers and streams. The 5th most bio­log­i­cally diverse state in the nation, Alabama has more than 18 river sys­tems and more fresh­wa­ter species diver­sity than any other state. Alabama is home to 35% of our nation’s fresh­wa­ter fish with 11 that are only found here. Sadly, our state ranks 3rd nation­ally for threat­ened endan­gered species.

Their mis­sion is to pre­serve the spe­cial places that set us apart. We work to pro­tect our trea­sured lands and species by col­lab­o­rat­ing with landown­ers inter­ested in pro­tect­ing water qual­ity and other con­ser­va­tion val­ues such as fam­ily farms and work­ing forests, scenic views, his­tor­i­cal sites, pub­lic recre­ation, and habi­tats for rare plants and ani­mals. By lever­ag­ing part­ner­ships with landown­ers, cor­po­ra­tions, local, state, and fed­eral gov­ern­ments, and other non-profit orga­ni­za­tions, our plans help to ensure that we pre­serve the places that mat­ter the most.

At Turkey Creek, the Land Trust worked for two years to com­bine approx­i­mately $1.5 mil­lion from the Jef­fer­son County Green­ways Pro­gram with $750,000 in pri­vate landowner con­tri­bu­tions to secure sup­port from the Alabama For­ever Wild Pro­gram, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Ser­vice, Jef­fer­son County and oth­ers to help estab­lish the 700-acre Turkey Creek Nature Pre­serve and Greenways.

Alabama’s Forever Wild Land Trust

Two decades after its establishment by constitutional amendment in 1992, the Forever Wild Land Trust has purchased more than 227,000 acres of land in Alabama for public use – yet that’s still a smaller percentage of public conservation land (3.66 percent) than nearly any other Southeastern state. Of this permanent land, the trust owns 165,807 acres, less than .51 percent of the total land area in Alabama. A long-term recreational lease has secured additional land.

The FWLT’s acquisitions have also created 220 miles of recreational trails within 21 new recreation areas and nature preserves, while providing additions to ten State Parks and 17 Wildlife Management Areas.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) manages these lands through its various divisions: State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. The ADCNR is not a General Fund Agency, and relies on revenues from license sales (hunting and fishing) and park visitor fees to support its public service operations.

Without relying on taxpayer money, these coastal wetlands, forests, wildlife habitats and other natural areas have been protected so that future generations can enjoy them

The City Of Pinson, Alabama

The city of Pinson, Alabama has a rich history and although the actual incorporation of the city occurred in 2004, the Pinson community is one of the oldest in the state of Alabama.

The residents in this city, from the Palmerdale and Pinson Valley communities, were united in the goal of local control with an overwhelming vote for incorporation. After the initial incorporation, the next chapter was set in motion.

Pinson’s Mayor, Hoyt Sanders, and the Pinson City Council invite you to visit our city to experience the warmth and charm that is a staple of southern hospitality.