Design Alabama pitches downtown expansion, trails and conservation zoning for Springville

Design Alabama presented a community vision to the Springville City Council that urges the city to build on its historic Main Street, strengthen connections to Big Spring Park and pursue trail and zoning tools to preserve open space while accommodating new housing and visitor amenities.

Gina Clifford, executive director of Design Alabama, framed the report as a “Design Place” product developed after public charrettes and follow‑up work by a team of design professionals. Facilitator Jason Fondren told the council the report is a 30,000‑foot view of a 46‑page document intended to guide future planning and grant applications.

"What do you do with downtown? Well, you've already done a lot of good things...it's simply a matter of continuing to do those things," Fondren said, urging continued stewardship of storefronts and reinvestment that would make downtown more visible to visitors.

Key recommendations include: stretching the town’s historic downtown character west toward Highway 174 (the "Meadow" area) to create a larger, more visible downtown; integrating stormwater management and water‑themed design that links Main Street to Big Spring Park; and exploring modest parking and park amenities that fit the town’s character. The presenters emphasized that the ideas are conceptual and that no engineering or site‑level design has been completed.

To improve recreational and visitor circulation, the report recommends multiple trail corridors — including a Rock Trail to directly link the Preserve to Main Street — and suggested the city consider adopting a conservation‑subdivision option in its zoning code so developers can cluster buildable lots and preserve floodplain or steep‑slope areas as permanent open space. The team said such zoning can allow the same number of homes while protecting environmental features and reducing infrastructure costs.

The presentation also proposed connector‑road strategies to relieve peak‑period congestion by providing additional east‑west routings that reuse existing street segments where feasible, and recommended improved interstate "trailblazer" signage and local wayfinding based on a branding concept that highlights Springville’s water identity. Presenters noted the town lacks overnight lodging and suggested bed‑and‑breakfasts or a hotel site in the Meadow as possible options.

Fondren pointed the council toward funding and technical resources (including a statewide "street trails" grant program) and urged the city to test high‑priority, low‑cost steps such as streetscape improvements and a bioswale pilot to demonstrate stormwater management approaches. He cautioned that some measures along state highways would require coordination with ALDOT.

In a brief question‑and‑answer period, council members asked for specifics. When asked about trail mileage from downtown to the Preserve, the mayor and presenters estimated the route is roughly a mile and a half and emphasized the figure is conceptual. Mayor Phillips said the full report will be posted for public review so residents can see the detailed visuals and supporting material.

The presentation concluded with council thanks to the Design Alabama team and a commitment to share the full report digitally; council members and staff said they expect to consider ideas during the upcoming comprehensive‑plan update and follow up on funding and implementation steps.