FOREST PARK HISTORY

Beginning in 1906, the Jemison Company worked to develop much of what would become Birmingham, Alabama’s Forest Park neighborhood. Located on the northern slope of Red Mountain, Forest Park spans approximately 230 acres and is located just 2 miles from downtown Birmingham. Forest Park’s streets and sidewalks follow the contours of Red Mountain, setting it apart from many of Birmingham’s neighborhoods which feature grid layouts.

 

Architecturally, the majority of the oldest homes in Forest Park represent various revival styles of the early 20th-century with Georgian, Tudor, and Adamesque being most prevalent. However, a sizable percentage of houses also demonstrate a Craftsman influence. Most of the homes in Forest Park were built during the first 30 years of the 20th Century, though a variety of mid-century dwellings and new construction houses are also found throughout. In 1980, neighborhood volunteers completed the extensive process of adding Forest Park to the National Registrar of Historic Places Inventory. A total of 692 homes make up the catalog of the Forest Park historic district, and each is individually documented.

 

Forest Park is home to a small commercial district, Forest Park Village, located on Clairmont Avenue. The neighborhood also enjoys Triangle Park, which is home to a playground, play field, and picnic area.