River Run Park

River Run Park is a 36-acre sports complex nestled between downtown Northport, Alabama and the Black Warrior River. The $27-million catalyst project is the first phase of the joint public/private Northport Shore development that will encompass over 120 acres adjacent to Kentuck Park, home of the annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts.

A pedestrian bridge at the south entry of the complex connects two (2) signature baseball and softball fields and welcomes visitors with park branding. The signature fields include press boxes, concessions, restrooms, and 500-seat grandstands. A central promenade links to seven (7) additional artificial turf baseball and softball fields, taking advantage of the topography and space between fields to provide strategic opportunities for non-sports activities as visitors move through the park. The promenade is capped by a covered pavilion for concessions and restrooms at the north entry.

The design for River Run Park draws inspiration from the City of Northport’s relationship with the Black Warrior River and its freshwater ecosystem. The delicate steel trusses of the pedestrian bridge provides a modern response to the historic barge industry of the area while landscaping utilizing native plants supports biodiversity and tells the story of the natural landscape.

The park’s branding and color palette reflect iconic baseball imagery and cohesively work with the architecture and landscaping to create a complete user experience that is playful yet purposeful.