One of the most unique parks and nature preserves in the South is Orr Park, located just south of Birmingham in the charming city of Montevallo, Alabama.
A beautiful preserve along Shoal Creek, the park features traditional amenities such as picnic tables, walking trails, a recreation center, ballfields and more. What really makes Orr Park unique, aside from its charming setting, is a unique effort by artist Tim Tingle to preserve the park’s ancient cedar trees.
Many of these old cedars were dying or had died and, despite their age, were destined for a meeting with a chainsaw. Tingle, however, saw potential in the old trees and over time transformed many of them into remarkable works of art.
As visitors roam the trails and woods of the park today, they are greeted with remarkable carvings of faces, figures, story book characters and even a dragon and are affectionately called Tinglewood. They range along the park’s walking trail and were given to the people of Montevallo by Tingle. His gift has brought joy to many and astonishment to others.
His vision quickly became a celebrated part of life in Montevallo and over time the number of carvings grew. He uses only dead trees, leaving the living ones to grow as part of the living forest.
Tingle’s massive outdoor creation of art at Orr Park is quite simply one of the most impressive sights in the South. Orr Park is on Park Drive in Montevallo, Alabama, just one block from Main Street. It is open during daylight hours.
With two playgrounds, six baseball/softball fields, a walking trail, a football field and a practice field, Orr Park offers residents and visitors an opportunity to “get back to nature”, to play organized sports, to use a variety of park equipment, to have family picnics, and to engage in just about any other imaginable outdoor activity. Beautiful Shoal Creek meanders through Orr Park providing opportunities for fishing, wading, canoeing, kayaking, birding, and just “watching the creek roll by.” A paved walking trail follows the creek for much of its journey through the park. The park is equipped with multiple picnic shelters. These facilities are available to the public for impromptu picnics as well as organized events.
Orr Park also has a large recreation center which houses several community programs including the Shelby County Senior Citizens Program and the Children’s Recreation Program.
General Admission Fee: Free
montevallocc.com | Park Rd. Montevallo AL 35115, Montevallo, ALmontevallocc@bellsouth.net, 205-665-1519