Gadsden, Alabama—home to roughly 34,000 residents and positioned along the Coosa River at the foothills of the Appalachians—has long been defined by cycles of industrial growth, economic transition, and community resilience. Once a major Southern manufacturing center, the city experienced significant population loss and disinvestment after the decline of the steel, textile, and rubber industries. As a regional hub within a metro area of nearly 100,000 people, Gadsden now faces an important moment of reinvention. Through more than 2,000 points of public input, we found that residents want to strengthen their connection to the river, improve mobility and neighborhood vitality, and leverage natural assets such as Noccalula Falls and Lake Gadsden to enhance both quality of life and economic opportunity.

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Across the plan’s three core themes—The Natural City, The Connected City, and The Growing City—my team recommended a series of ambitious but achievable strategies to guide Gadsden’s next 20 years. We recommended enhancing natural and recreational assets through major improvements to Noccalula Falls, expansion of the Riverwalk, new trail networks including a signature Rails-to-Trails corridor, and redevelopment that activates the Coosa waterfront. We proposed realigning Highway 411 to unlock a true downtown riverfront district; upgrading mobility through sidewalk gap closures, complete streets, and the I-759 extension; and strengthening neighborhoods by reinvesting in parks, modernizing community facilities, and promoting targeted housing growth. Finally, we outlined economic development steps—from airport modernization to redevelopment of former industrial sites—that position Gadsden for long-term resilience. Together, these recommendations create a coordinated roadmap for a greener, more connected, and more economically vibrant city.