Vestavia Hills has joined several cities across metro Birmingham in making major improvements to athletic facilities for school and community use.

Over the next three years, the Vestavia Hills City Council agreed to dedicate $3.5 million to school athletic facility improvements, according to a recent announcement.

Assistant City Manager Cinnamon McCulley said these upgrades could benefit the entire city given a shared-use agreement with the Vestavia Hills School System.

“This allows for both parties to ‘share the use’ of each entity’s facilities, especially for recreational purposes,” McCulley wrote in an email to The Birmingham News. “Both groups understand that sharing access to existing recreational facilities is one of the best ways to efficiently and effectively provide opportunities for physical activities for the Vestavia Hills community.”

Below is a breakdown of the projects the city is funding, in priority order.

The replacement of artificial turf at Vestavia Hills High School’s Buddy Anderson Field and roadway and drainage/parking improvements at the Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge athletic field are both scheduled to begin this summer, according to the city website. The other projects should start over the next two summers, but no construction schedules or completion dates have been finalized, according to Vestavia Hills spokesperson Whit McGhee.

Athletic improvements in other cities

Earlier this month the city of Irondale broke ground on an $8.5 million Ruffner Baseball Park improvement project that was announced last fall.

Over the next year local contractors Milam & Company will be adding a concessions/restroom building with a press box, an additional restroom and pavilion, two picnic shade pavilions, three synthetic turf ball fields, a new playground, walking paths, a new parking lot, and updating the park’s sports field lighting, according to their website.

Irondale city leadership previously said they were hopeful these improvements, which are scheduled for completion by next April, would attract more softball/baseball tournaments to the park.

The city of Calera is looking to upgrade athletic facilities at Eagle Park and Oliver Park as part of its 15-year master plan, planCalera. Some of these upgrades may include new seating in the Ricky M. Cairns football stadium and additional tennis courts at Eagle Park.

“A high quality of life depends on access to quality parks, sports and other family-friendly recreational outlets,” reads planCalera.

Some cities have their eye on a popular new sport, pickleball. Over the next year, Hoover and Alabaster are partnering to add additional pickleball courts to Veteran’s Park.

“It’s what our younger residents want,” said Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato. “And frankly, it’s what our older residents want. They want to be able to get out walk and exercise. Health and lifestyle are so important today.”

“People want to take care of their bodies,” he said. “They want to have opportunities to go out in a very safe and nice environment and to exercise at the level that they’re most comfortable. Whether it be biking, or walking, or canoeing in the Cahaba River or just working out at different outdoor stations or playing pickleball.”

According to UAB medical professor Dr. Mona Fouad, expanding access to outdoor recreation and athletics is a vital component to improving the metro’s overall health.

“[Alabamians] rank at the bottom in all our chronic diseases,” she told The Birmingham News previously. “If we look at the common risk factors for all chronic diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension- if we can focus on eating healthy, exercise, and follow prevention and wellness, we can really reduce our risk for all these chronic diseases… We like to increase active living.”