HUNTSVILLE – In 1962, a largely undeveloped Cummings Research Park opened like a diamond in the rough with its 4,000 acres anchored by just three companies: Brown Engineering, IBM, and Lockheed. The 500-acre University of Alabama in Huntsville campus was tucked securely in its midst.
Today, Cummings Research Park is anything but a rough-cut diamond. As it celebrates its 60-year anniversary – the diamond anniversary, coincidentally – what a shining rock it has become for all of Madison County. It is the second-largest research park in the country and home to more than 300 companies, 26,000 employees, and 13,500 students.
And to celebrate, its tenants, known as the sharpest minds in technology, are throwing a two-part, all-day party for the community Oct. 22.
Cummings Research Park’s 60th anniversary Family Fun Day starts at The Point at Lake 4 off Explorer Boulevard across from Adtran’s south entrance.
The party, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., is really a community festival with hands-on family-friendly activities, remote control boat races, balloon animals, face painting, live music, and food trucks.
Then, the festivities move to MidCity District to continue the fun from 4-11:30 p.m. The evening event is also free to the public except for food and drink purchases.
Leading up the the celebration, CRP is partnering with The Camp for its two-week-long Monster Mash, Oct. 13-31. There will be spooky good drink specials, Halloween vibes and décor, live music, costume contests, and a pumpkin patch.
