Leeds, Alabama—a fast-growing suburb of Birmingham with roughly 12,000 residents—stands at a pivotal moment as new housing, commercial development, and major regional attractions reshape the city’s trajectory. We found that Leeds’ strong population growth, expanding job base, and strategic assets such as the Shops of Grand River, Barber Motorsports Park, and the I-20 corridor have created both opportunity and pressure on aging infrastructure, parks, and commercial corridors. Through extensive public input gathered across meetings, surveys, and digital engagement, we heard consistent themes: residents want stronger downtown revitalization, better parks and athletic facilities, more diverse housing options, and improved connectivity across the city. Our research also identified internal disparities in housing, access to parks, income, and mobility—reinforcing the need for intentional, equitable investment.

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In response, the team recommended a forward-looking set of strategies organized around four themes: Growth, Recreation, Connection, and Unity. We recommended catalyzing smart, sustainable growth by densifying and revitalizing downtown, advancing targeted mixed-use development at Exits 140 and 144, and guiding walkable new neighborhoods in the Grand River area supported by a regional sports complex. We proposed transforming recreation citywide through major park upgrades at Leeds City Park, Memorial Park, Moton Park, and the splash pad/civic center complex, paired with a new network of greenways—including a Little Cahaba River greenway and a transformative rail-to-trail corridor that links downtown to Grand River. To improve mobility, we recommended multimodal street upgrades, safer highway gateways, sidewalk and bike connectivity, and streetscape enhancements that strengthen links between neighborhoods, schools, and parks. Coalition-building, equitable investment, and a detailed action matrix ensure that Leeds can implement these ideas as a living plan. Together, these recommendations chart a cohesive path toward a more vibrant, connected, and inclusive future for Leeds.