After nearly two decades of planning, work and partnerships, Mill Creek Nature Preserve is set to open to the public Friday.
The City of Madison, Land Trust of North Alabama and Madison Greenways & Trails will hold a grand opening at 11 a.m. Friday at the Balch Road Trailhead, located at the historic Gray Cemetery.
Officials and representatives from the groups involved will speak during the ceremony before residents can head out onto the preserve’s roughly one mile of trails.
The trails are designed for all ages and abilities and run through wooded areas and along streams just north of the Chelsea Park subdivision.
Mayor Ranae Bartlett, District 7 Councilman Kenneth Jackson and representatives from the Land Trust and Madison Greenways & Trails are scheduled to speak. The event is open to the public and media.
The property was acquired in 2006 and was later identified as a high-priority greenspace project in Madison’s comprehensive plan. Work on the preserve has taken place in phases, with the Balch Road Trailhead serving as the first step in a larger project.
“Mill Creek Nature Preserve is a wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision for protecting greenspace and creating places for people to experience nature,” said Marie Bostick, executive director of the Land Trust of North Alabama.
“We are grateful to the City of Madison, Madison Greenways & Trails, the volunteers who have invested their time and energy, and the many partners who have helped bring this vision to life. The Land Trust is proud to play a role in protecting and stewarding this special place for the community, and we look forward to seeing Mill Creek Nature Preserve grow in the years ahead.”
Jim Chamberlain of Madison Greenways & Trails said the need for places like the preserve has grown along with Madison.
“Madison is a growing and vibrant city. We work hard but need additional greenspace where we can relax, absorb the sights and sounds of nature, and enjoy the peaceful world around us,” Chamberlain said. “Balch Road Trailhead at Mill Creek Nature Preserve provides a mile of gentle hiking trails suitable for all ages and abilities. Come out, hike the trails, and enjoy our beautiful woods and streams.”
The new trailhead also sits beside one of the area’s older landmarks.
Gray Cemetery dates to 1822 and was part of the early Providence community. A Cumberland Presbyterian church once stood nearby.
Over the years, local historians and volunteers have worked to clear the cemetery, restore markers and document the graves there, including those of early settlers and veterans.
That work will continue alongside the development of the preserve. The city, cemetery volunteers, Madison Greenways & Trails and the Land Trust have worked together to preserve the site’s history while opening the surrounding property for public use.
The Land Trust is expected to oversee the full preserve, similar to its role at Rainbow Mountain Preserve in Madison.
More work is planned. A second trailhead on the east side of the property is recommended beginning in 2027, with the potential to add up to two more miles of trails.
Longterm, planners hope to extend the Mill Creek Greenway from its current end near Browns Ferry Road toward the Wall Triana Highway area. That could eventually create a connection between western Madison, including Bradford Creek Greenway, and existing walking and biking routes near Wall Triana Highway and Hughes Road.
Madison Visionary Partners, local history and cemetery groups and dozens of volunteers have also been involved in the project over the years.
The grand opening begins at 11 a.m. Friday at the Balch Road Trailhead. Residents can walk the trails after the ceremony, and parking is available at the trailhead.
Zachary Austin is a writer for 256 Today. You can contact him at [email protected].
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