Rotarians & Friends gather to Celebrate Rotary Trail
Rotary Club of Birmingham members gathered with Rotaract Club of Birmingham members, friends and guests for the Rotary Trail Party on April 24th.
Attendees toasted the club's centennial gift to the Magic City with Frank Stitt's signature "Sparkling Greyhound" cocktail & mocktail, Back 40 Beer, selections from International Wines and Milo's Tea. They enjoyed delicious food from Tre Luna, Crazy Cajuns and Big Spoon Creamery, as well as samples from soon-to-open Lebanese restaurant Epice. The Hardwick graciously opened for tours, live music in the lobby, and extended hours at Ballard Designs. While guests were fortunate to celebrate under a beautiful rain-free sky, we appreciate our friends at The Hardwick and The Harbert Center standing by with weather contingency plans.
We are grateful to the Rotary Trail Party Committee for their care in planning every detail of the event. Thanks to Co-Chairs Cal Dodson and Helen Combs for their leadership, along with committee members Libby Lassiter, Jane Reed Ross, Jen Dent, Walton Foster, Charles, Bolaji Kukoyi, Kevin Garrison, VP of Club Service David Killion & Rotaractor Amy Thomas. Special thanks to RCB staff members Lora Blalock, Tyler Buck & June Clark for their hard work managing all the behind-the-scenes tasks.
Special thanks to event sponsors: AutoTec, Back Forty Beer Co., Brasfield & Gorrie, Chalker Group, The Hardwick, International Wines & Craft Beer, Landing, Lightfoot Franklin & White, McKinney Capital, MD-VIP, Medovation Clinical Research, Milo's Tea Co., Ozan Vineyard, Winery & Spirits, PNC, Synovus, UAB Medicine, Vulcan Gin, Vulcan Industrial Contractors, Wilbron, Women's Foundation of Alabama & Wood Fruitticher.
Plans are already underway for an even bigger event on Thursday, April 16, 2026, when RCB will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Rotary Trail!
Rotary Trail is the Rotary Club of Birmingham’s 100th anniversary gift to the Birmingham community. Completed in 2015, the 3.5-million dollar project transformed a vacant railroad right-of-way, or “cut,” into a pleasantly-landscaped, four-block walking/running/biking pathway. The trail’s economic impact has been tremendous, with millions of dollars invested in the once blighted area. The trail and surrounding areas have become a destination for visitors and residents alike and are among the most photographed places in Birmingham. RCB oversees the routine maintenance and upkeep of the trail through gifts to the RCB Foundation. Members join in service several times a year, replacing mulch, pruning plants and removing litter. Click here to learn more.
Photos provided by Sarah Rawls and June Clark.
