Bridge Crossing Jubilee - Mar 5-8
Commemoration of the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March. Highlights include a parade, pageant, symposiums, music, Voting Rights Hall of Fame induction and much more.

"Colonies of the Gulf Coast," 19th Annual - Mar 7
Explore life on Isle Dauphine in the 1700-1800's. Visit with French, British, and Spanish soldiers. Watch demonstrations of basket weaving and open-hearth cooking. Resident blacksmith on site.

Alabama River Festival - Mar 12-14
Creek/Seminole traditions, 1812 frontier camps, river music, food and culture, all at the only museum on the Alabama River.

58th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival - Mar 20-22
Enjoy nearly 250 booths of the finest arts and crafts in the nation with live local entertainment, the Spring Fever Chase, train show, Outdoor Art Show and classic festival foods. Shuttle provided.

Historic Mobile Homes Tour - Mar 20-21
Tour some of Mobile's most significant architectural treasures represented by private homes, sacred places and house museums. Architectural styles include Creole cottages, Greek Revival mansions, Victorian and Neoclassic residences.

Historic Selma Pilgrimage & Antique Show & Sale - Mar 20-22
Spring flowers and belles in hoop skirts serve as a backdrop for the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society's annual event, which features home, church and cemetery tours, an antique show and a car show.

Spring Farm Day - Mar 21
Experience living history demonstrations of sheep shearing, blacksmithing, plowing with draft animals, basket weaving, quilting, and other farm activities. Enjoy an Old-Time Fiddlers Convention and folk music.

"Siege of Bridgeport" Reenactment, 15th Annual - Mar 27-29
Alabama's largest reenactment features more than 2,000 reenactors who bring history to life as they relive the fateful battle of the Civil War. Period music, authentic encampment, and vendors.

195th Anniversary of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Mar 28-29
Experience live cannon fire, the lives of Creek and Cherokee Indians, hunting camps and demonstrations of traditional skills of the early 1800s.

The Original German Sausage Festival - Mar 28
German sausage and other food booths, music, dancing, arts and crafts, children's rides and games.

EPA is today releasing a new report, "Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions," which examines building trends in the 50 largest metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2007.  The report shows thatwhile a large share of new residential construction still takes place on previously undeveloped land at the urban fringe, more than half of the county's larger metro regions have seen a sharp increase in residential building in urban core areas. EPA believes this trend reflects growing appreciation in many communities for smart growth development that reuses already developed property and infrastructure, protects air and water quality, and preserves natural lands and critical environmental areas.

More information on the report: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/construction_trends.htm

To explore the interest in developing an Alabama Agri-Tourism Association, several agencies are partnering to hold a series of five meetings March 2-9 in various areas of the state. The partnering agencies include the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Alabama Tourism Department, Alabama Farmers Market Authority, Alabama Department of Transportation and the Alabama Farmers Federation. The meetings are set for the following dates and locations:
 

• March 2    10 a.m.           Morgan County Extension Office in Hartselle
• March 2    3:00 p.m.        Young & Vann Building in Birmingham
• March 3    10 a.m.           Alabama Farmers Coop in Selma
• March 4    10 a.m.           Holiday Inn Express in Fairhope
• March 9    10 a.m.           Landmark Park in Dothan

 
Developing a state agri-tourism association has benefits says Tom Chesnutt, a tourism specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. "It would enhance the agri-tourism industry in Alabama; serve as an industry networking group; allow industry members input into Alabama's Agri-Tourism Trail program; provide additional marketing opportunities; make possible the development of a state highway signage program and an accreditation program," Chesnutt says.
 
The agri-tourism experience could involve farm tours and stays, roadside stands and markets, U-pick operations, on-farm sales, festivals and fairs, guided crop tours, petting zoos, hay rides, habitat improvement projects, bird watching and wildlife viewing, hunting dog training and competition, trap and skeet shooting, fee fishing and hunting, barn dances, corn and hay mazes, garden and nursery tours, historical agricultural exhibits, exotic animal farms and other activities.  For additional information contact Tom Chesnutt at chesnjt@auburn.edu

The annual Legislative Tourism Bash is Tuesday, March 10 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the RSA Activity Center in downtown Montgomery.  Join hospitality and tourism professionals from around the state to host lawmakers at one of the best attended receptions during the legislative year. The Tourism Bash helps inform elected officials about the economic impact of the Alabama Tourism Industry. The event offers an opportunity to visit face to face with the men and women who make decisions that impact tourism statewide. Invite your board members, city and county officials to join you at this "can't miss" annual event. While the Tourism Bash offers the perfect chance to mix and mingle with our legislators, it also serves as the primary fund-raiser for the Alabama Tourism Partnership, which works year round to promote the interests of the Tourism Industry in the state.
 
For sponsorship and ticket information contact patticulp@alabamatravel.org

The 2008 Save America's Treasures grant awards have been announced. Please click on "funded projects" to view the complete list. Click here for the Press Release and 2008 Awards List.

The Federal Save America's Treasures program is one of the largest and most successful grant programs for the protection of our nation's endangered and irreplaceable and endangered cultural heritage. Grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art. Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects.

Grants are awarded to Federal, state, local, and tribal government entities, and non-profit organizations through a competitive matching-grant program, administered by the National Park Service in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

The Save America's Treasures program received the 2007 Keystone Award, the highest award given to organizations outside the architectural field for outstanding contributions to society, from the American Institute of Architects and the American Architectural Foundation.

http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/treasures/index.htm

The Alabama Department of Children's Affairs and VOICES for Alabama's Children will co-host the 2009 Children's Policy Council Regional Conferences beginning March 13 and continuing through April 16, 2009 at six different locations throughout the state. The locations, dates, and registration deadlines are listed on the website. For more information please visit the website at  www.alavoices.org.   If you have any questions please contact:  Dr. Susan McKim, DCA at 334-223-0502 or by email at  susan.mckim@dca.alabama.gov

The Newspaper Association of America Foundation was established to advance informed and intelligent media use by all citizens, especially young people, and to encourage them to value the people's right to know and their right to a free and unfettered press. The Foundation's Student/Newspaper Partnership Grant Program provides support to collaborative proposals between middle and high schools and their local newspapers to start, relaunch, or revitalize student newspapers, whether online or in print. Schools are also encouraged to seek a university or a college as an additional partner. Applications from minority-majority, urban, and rural schools and their local newspapers are of special interest. Each partnership may receive up to $5,000 in Year One, plus an additional $2,500 in Year Two. Applications must be submitted by April 15, 2009. Visit the Foundation's website to review the funding guidelines. Please visit website for more details. http://www.naafoundation.org/Home/NAAFoundation/ScholasticPress/PartnershipGrants.aspx

TravelGreen.org is a comprehensive site for travel professionals to learn more about travel and the environment, and ways travel businesses are already stepping forward to responsibly address this critical issue. Created by the U.S. Travel Association and its partner in travel, American Express, this unique site is an easy-to-use "one-stop shop" to help better understand the concept of sustainable travel, what other travel organizations are doing, and how government policies could impact the travel community.

The FHWA Central Federal Lands Highway Division published the Guide to Promoting Bicycling on Federal Lands (HTML / PDF). Bicycling facilities are important transportation and recreation links to connect gateway communities, visitor centers, campgrounds, trailheads, and other attractions. This report presents benefits of bicycling, successful programs, policies that support bicycling, issues and challenges faced by land managers, and resources available to help meet these challenges.

About the Course
"Essentials of Economic Development," a two-day course offered bythe  Economic & Community Development Institute, will assemble leading  economic and community development practitioners and professionals at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center to discuss fundamental ideas,  concepts and success strategies for economic development. Topics to be covered will include community development, industrial marketing and recruiting, business retention and expansion, as well as retail and workforce development.  Further information may be found at the website: www.auburn.edu/ecdi/essentials09.html.

Course Format
ECDI will provide each participant with a course CD containing faculty presentations and reference materials. Participants may view presentations  on their own personal laptop or on the screen in front of the classroom.   The course registration fee is $225.  Refreshments will be provided.  Upon completion, course participants will be eligible for 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU).

Who Should Attend

• New Economic Developers
• Chamber of Commerce Officials
• State and Local Elected Officials
• Community Leaders
• Utility Company Representatives
• Community and Regional Planners

Schedule

Thursday, March 5
9:00 am      Registration
8:30 am     First Session
11:30 am     Lunch
5:00 pm      Adjourn

Friday, March 6
9:30 am      First Session
11:30 am    Adjourn


Registration and Course Fee
Several registration options are available. Please choose one of the following methods to register from the website:

Print, complete and mail online form and registration fee payment.
Print and fax the completed registration form with credit card information.
Register on-line with a credit card.

Location and Accommodations
Hotel room reservations are the responsibility of the individual and are not included in the course fee. A block of rooms has been reserved for course participants at a special rate of $96.00 per night. Participants must  indicate they are attending the "ECDI Essentials of Economic Development"  course when making their reservations in order to receive the special rate.  For further information please call (800) 228-2876 or go to http://www.auhcc.com.

For More Information
Please contact Allyson Martin at (334) 844-3686 or email at: ahm0007@auburn.edu

REGISTRATION CLOSING SOON!

Take a look at this interesting site for some innovative ideas on what to do with those dead strip malls....

http://www.flipastrip.org/

From the article "Moundville park could lead way for tourism boost" by Tommy Stevenson in the Feb. 16 edition of the Tuscaloosa News:
 
The Moundville Archaeological Park in Hale County is world-renowned as one of the most significant prehistoric Native American settlements in the United States. The University of Alabama, in coordination with several local, state and federal agencies and organizations, has completed the first year of a three-year project to make the park part of a four-county "eco-tourism" attraction that would encompass the rivers, wetlands and other natural features of Hale, Bibb, Dallas and Perry counties. "Everybody knows about Moundville and how it was the largest settlement in what is now America in the 13th century," said Betsy Irwin, education outreach coordinator for the park. "But there is a lot more to this part of west Alabama and the Black Belt than just the mounds of Moundville.
 
"What we are working on is developing a tourism trail throughout the ... counties with the park serving as a gateway, at least for the western part of the Black Belt." In that effort, the University of Alabama's Center for Economic Development has secured funding that placed AmeriCorps VISTA workers in each of the counties for three years beginning last February. They are coordinating their efforts with organizations and agencies as diverse as the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alabama Historical Commission, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Nature Conservancy, the Auburn Rural Studio, the Rural Conservation and Development Council in each county, the West Alabama Regional Commission and the Cahaba River Society. "The name of the overall program is 'Heritage and Eco-Tourism in Alabama,' " Irwin said. "And we think we can make it a major attraction for Alabama."
 
For the complete article see http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090216/NEWS/902150235

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the FY2008 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants Program Guidance on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Website. The application period is scheduled to begin on February 2, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Applications for these grants must be received by March 6, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
 
FP&S grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The grants are competitive, and their primary goal is to target high-risk populations. Grant awards are made in order to mitigate high incidences of death and injury and to carry out research for improving firefighter safety. Examples of the types of fire prevention projects that are supported by FP&S include smoke alarm installation, fire prevention and public safety education campaigns, juvenile fire setter interventions, media campaigns, and arson prevention and awareness programs. Organizations that are eligible to apply under the research activity should consult the Program Guidance for detailed information on priorities and areas of emphasis. 

An applicant tutorial for the fire prevention activity will be available through the www.firegrantsupport.com Website. The tutorial will provide you with valuable grant information and will walk you through the preparation and submittal of competitive applications. In addition, the applicant tutorial will provide an overview of the fire prevention funding priorities and evaluation criteria. Applicants who have questions regarding the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants opportunity should contact the help desk as soon as possible at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@dhs.gov. During the application period, the help desk will operate Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST), but is prepared to revise hours of operation based on volume, demand, holidays and urgency to complete the FP&S Grants application period and processing for FY08.  The AFG Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration.
http://www.firegrantsupport.com/fps/guidance/
 

This grant opportunity offers up to six first-year awards of $35,000 for the development and provision of comprehensive, academically based, fundamental education and training for victim assistance providers, victim advocates, criminal justice personal, and allied professionals who routinely work with victims of crime. Grants could total $195,000 for this 3-year project. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment from the state Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) victim assistance and compensation program offices to help develop the Academy. 
Award Ceiling: $35,000
Current Closing Date for Applications: Apr 01, 2009
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/fund/dakit.htm

From a report on NBC WSFA-12 in Montgomery:

The country's smallest national forest is celebrating a major milestone.  This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Tuskegee National Forest.  Officials kicked off the big event with a "Legacy of Restoration" historical tour, highlighting the Tuskegee National Forest's historic impact on Alabama. "Anytime you have a milestone like the 50th anniversary and look back at how you got there, it's just a great opportunity to go back and revisit the past," says Bob Pasquill with the U.S. Forest Service. The U.S. Forest Service, the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center and the Alabama Tourism Department will host a series of events throughout the year leading up to the main 50th anniversary celebration in September. http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=9831521

www.raconline.org
Established in 2002 as a rural health and human services information portal, the Rural Assistance Center (RAC) helps those working with rural communities to learn about available programs, funding, and research that provide quality health and human services to rural residents.
 
The dozen of available topics include community development, economic development, workforce development, and state and federal legislation.  Each topical area provides more information about funding opportunities, organization involved in the area, contacts, news, events, and more.

Several Alabama Civil Rights sites including the King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery and the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham were featured in the USA WEEKEND newspaper supplement this past weekend. USA WEEKEND is carried in more than 600 newspapers and has a readership of 49.2 million.
 
From the article "Visit civil rights sights" by Everett Potter in the Feb 6-8 edition of USA WEEKEND:
 
The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. was the heart of the Montgomery bus boycott from 1955-56. The boycott, which was spearheaded by the church's new minister, King, eventually transformed Rosa Parks into a civil rights pioneer. If you visit the historic 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., the nearby Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a gem that offers a wide range of multimedia exhibits that bring the entire history of the civil rights movement into sharp focus.  http://www.usaweekend.com/09_issues/090208/090208thinksmart-travel-civil-rights.html

Deadline: March 2, 2009; October 1, 2009
The primary mission of the Tony Hawk Foundation is to promote  high-quality, public skateparks in low-income areas throughout  the United States by providing grants to encourage and facilitate  the design, development, construction, and operation of new skateboard parks and facilities.
 
The foundation primarily considers funding for projects designed  and built by qualified and
experienced skatepark contractors and  that include local skaters in the design process, are in low-  income areas and/or areas with a high population of at-risk  youth, can demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment, have a  creative mix of street obstacles and transition/vert terrain, do  not require skaters or their parents to sign waivers, encourage  skaters to look after their own safety and the safety of others,  are open during daylight hours 365 days a year, do not charge an  entrance fee, and are in areas that currently have no skateboarding facilities.
 
Grants range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000  each. The foundation may  also offer technical assistance on  design and construction, promotional materials, training materials, and safety information, and facilitate support from  vendors, suppliers, and community leaders.
 
 The applicant must be a 501(c)(3) public charity or a state or  local agency (including public school systems or public  projects).
 
 The foundation anticipates approving grant requests twice a year  (spring and fall). Applicants may apply for a grant a total of  two times. Grant recipients that have received no more than  $1,000 may also re-apply once.
 
 Visit the Tony Hawk Foundation Web site for complete program  information.
 
 RFP Link: http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15016770/tonyhawkfdn

The purpose of this initiative is to support statewide implementation of the HRSA component of the Presidents New Freedom Initiative to create inclusive community based systems of services for children and youth with special health care needs.  Under this initiative HRSAs Maternal and Child Health Bureau has the lead in developing and implementing a plan to achieve appropriate community based service systems, as defined by the following components family professional partnership comprehensive health care through a medical home access to adequate health insurance early and continuous screening organization of community services for easy use by families and transition to adult health care work and independence.  Visit website below for more details.  
      https://grants.hrsa.gov/webExternal/FundingOppDetails.asp?FundingCycleId=1FCEC3EF-1879-40EA-B569-1E06C9D2EF62&ViewMode=EU&GoBack=&PrintMode=&OnlineAvailabilityFlag=&pageNumber=&version=&NC=&Popup=

Do you know any women age 40+ who are back to school seeking new job skills, training, and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families? The AARP Foundation will award up to 100 scholarships to eligible individuals with moderate to lower incomes and limited financial resources. See criteria and refer candidates to apply through March 31. To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be: Women. Age 40 or over by March 31, 2009 Able to demonstrate financial need Enrolled in an accredited school or technical program within 6 months of the scholarship award date. For more information, visit http://www.aarpfoundationwlc.org/

The Alabama tourism industry will have a rally at the steps of the State House in Montgomery on Tuesday, Feb.17 to voice their support for several bills before the legislature. "The Rally for Tourism" will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Union Street side of the State House Office and will include speeches by Huntsville Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Judy Ryals, and members of both the Alabama House and Senate.  According to the latest Economic Impact Study by the Alabama Tourism Department, more than 22.4 million people visit the state each year, generating over $9.3 billion in expenditures within Alabama and helping to provide more than 169,000 jobs for Alabama families. "Tourism is a vital part of the economic health of Alabama and the rally is a means for us to express to the state's elected officials our support for their initiative to strengthen the industry," said Ryals. "In particular we want to express our support for a later school start date in Alabama, the Alabama Movie Bill (HB 69), and seven day sales," she said.  For additional information, please contact the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association at 800-648-5381 or email angie@northalabama.org.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division is currently accepting Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) applications from landowners interested in longleaf pine restoration and/or enhancement. Deadline for applications is April 1. 

LIP is a federal grant program that assists landowners in habitat improvement/restoration for the benefit of species in greatest conservation need (GCN). Individual projects are selected on a competitive ranking process based on the number of GNC species that will benefit from the project. 

"While the Landowner Incentive Program improves habitat for threatened and endangered species such as the Eastern indigo snake or the red- cockaded woodpecker, it also benefits game species such as deer and wild turkey," said Traci George, LIP Coordinator. "It's a win-win situation."   LIP may cost share up to 64 percent of the cost of the selected longleaf pine restoration project. The program can provide assistance with seedlings and planting, chemical site preparation, site- preparation burn, native grass restoration and exotic species control. 

Eligible property must be privately owned and occur within the historical range of longleaf pine in Alabama. Cutover and agricultural lands are also eligible. There are no minimum acreage
requirements. 

For LIP applications, contact Traci George at (334) 353-0503, or Traci.George@dcnr.alabama.gov. For more information about LIP visit www.outdooralabama.com/research-mgmt/landowner/lip/.  

FREE grantmanship workshops continue with the following workshops offered in February
and March:  For more information or to sign up -  carolynbern@adph.state.al.us or 334.206.5436. 

1.  February 11th --- Evaluation.  This workshop includes types, methods, tools, expectations,
goals, objectives, activities, work plans, reports, evaluation samples and exercises.          
2.  February 18th -- Grants.gov workshop.   Limited space for the introduction to grants.gov
and EHB handbook.
3.  March 4th -- Grant Budgets.  This workshop will include budget fundamentals, record
keeping, line item budget, budget narrative and justification, sample budgets, carry-over, form
424A, federal reporting, in-direct rate, sustainability and exercises  
4.  We will offer another Introduction to Grant Writing Workshop on March 12th.

Carolyn A. Bern Rural Health Outreach Coordinator, Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
The RSA Tower/Suite 710 201 Monroe Street
Montgomery, AL 36104

Local Grant Opportunities:
*Alabama Wildlife Federation Outdoor Classroom Grant Program:  Deadline March 6, 2009
The purpose of the Alabama Wildlife Federation's (AWF) Outdoor Classroom (OC) Grant Program is to provide financial assistance and faculty support to schools who wish to create sustainable wildlife habitats and effective outdoor classroom sites on their school grounds. Click on the links below for more details:

Grant Guidelines | Grant Pre-Proposal |Grant Application  (PDFs)

Representatives from the United Kingdom tour company North American Travel Service will be in Alabama next week visiting attractions and RTJ Golf Trail resorts in Birmingham, Montgomery, the Shoals, and the Mobile Bay area. North American Travel Service is a 35-year old travel company specializing in the luxury resort travel market. The company sends more than 25,000 tourists to the U.S. each year through its network of locations across the UK. North American Travel Service currently offers two preplanned vacation itineraries through Alabama and features the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Birmingham, the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa in Florence, the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa, and the Grand Hotel Marriot Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clear. Grey Brennan with the Alabama Tourism Department is coordinating the trip with Global Travel Marketing in the UK. http://www.northamericatravelservice.co.uk/state_details.asp?State_name=Alabama

Top Events for February 2009

Ain't Misbehavin', 30th Anniversary Tour - Feb 3-8
Feb 3-8, Birmingham Ain't Misbehavin', 30th Anniversary Tour 205-458-8400. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Concert Hall-Show featuring the music of Fats Waller and songs that made Birmingham's Nell Carter a star when it premiered on Broadway in 1978 will star American Idol's Rubben Studdard and Frenchie Davis, who was also an Idol contestant.

African-American Leadership Conference - Feb 6-7
Feb 6-7, Troy African American Leadership Conference 334-670-2283. Admission charged. Troy University Trojan Center--Celebrate Black History Month with various local and national speakers, symposiums for students and adults, entertainment, and more. Fri., 6 p.m. until; Sat., 8:30 a.m. until.

Altrusa's 42nd Annual Antique Show and Sale - Feb 6-8
Feb 6-8, Gadsden Altrusa's 42nd Annual Antique Show and Sale 256-546-4076, 256-547-5093, 256-442-7384. Admission charged. Gadsden Convention Hall, 344 First St.--Dealers from throughout the South offer furniture, glassware, silver, linens, jewelry and other collectibles. Meals served. Door prizes. Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Celebrating the "Year of Apollo" 40th Anniversary Kick-Off Gala - Feb 7
Feb 7, Huntsville Celebrating the "Year of Apollo" 800-63-SPACE. www.spacecamp.com. U.S. Space & Rocket Center--Astronauts and other dignitaries will be part of the black-tie gala celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. Proceeds will go toward museum exhibits/displays in the Davidson Center, home to the restored Saturn V rocket.

Mercedes Marathon and Half Marathon - Feb 15
Feb 15, Birmingham Mercedes Marathon and Half Marathon 205-870-7771. www.mercedesmarathon.com. Fee for participants only. Birmingham's Boutwell Auditorium/Linn Park--One of the South's premier running weekends. Enjoy a marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles), marathon relay, 5k (3.2 miles) and a kids marathon. See Web site for details. 7 a.m.

Nationwide, redevelopment and housing authorities have built 75 parks on the former sites of factories, homes, office buildings, railyards, parking lots, landfills, and even highways. Based on a 2008 survey by TPL's Center for City Park Excellence, "When There's Nothing to Conserve, Create!" was recently published in the Journal of Housing and Community Development and is now available for download. Also from the center: a new report on the parkland deficit in Virginia's Hampton Roads area recommends that the soon-to-be-decommissioned Fort Monroe be converted into a 570-acre park.

Download the reports from the Trust for Public Land.
Report: When There's Nothing to Conserve, Create! The Role of Parks in Redevelopment Projects: http://www.tpl.org/content_documents/RedevelopmentAuthorities&Parks.pdf
Report: Hampton Roads Parkland Deficit (VA): http://www.tpl.org/content_documents/Fort_Monroe_Bracing_for_ChangeWEB.pdf