City, DCH teaming up for new park in Northport

Northport is teaming up with DCH Health System and will be beautifying and expanding outdoor recreation for residents at the site of Northport Medical Center.

The area owned by DCH Health System surrounding the medical center currently features the half-demolished former Fitness One building along McFarland Boulevard.

During Monday’s Northport City Council meeting, residents learned part of DCH’s grounds will be a future spot for a park.

Northport agreed to lease the land from DCH, and the park will be built off 13th Avenue near NMC. The multi-phase project will eventually include basketball courts, a walking track and a picnic area.

Also Monday, the council gave the OK for Porter-Higginbotham Engineering Inc. of Tuscaloosa to design and survey the area.

Northport City Engineer Tera Tubbs said the city wants this park to be an area where family and friends can gather.

“A couple years ago we went through a wish list, what would everybody like see for quality of life in Northport,” Tubbs said. “We found and identified those things. Outdoor basketball courts have always been something that was on that list. We are lucky to be able to find a location that is able to include those things.”

Groundbreaking on the future park is expected to happen before the end of the year.