Sewell Proposes National Park Designation for Birmingham

The City of Birmingham could soon see a boost in economic growth if Congresswoman Terri Sewell has anything to do with it.

According to an email from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Congresswoman Terri Sewell has introduced legislation to designate Birmingham's Historic Civil Rights District as a National Park.

Historic landmarks in the area will include 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, A.G. Gaston Motel, Bethel Baptist Church, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The National Park designation is expected to provide a boost in tourism, thereby creating a greater economic surge for the City of Birmingham.

While the area proposed in the filing of H.R. 4817 isn't particularly a "park," the National Park Service recognizes places particularly notable because of their connection with events or people of historic interest, which are often urban areas with a number of historically relevant buildings.

It's always good when we can see elected officials working on behalf of their constituents. Making such a movement shows Representative Sewell's interest in not only preserving the historical significance of events which took place in Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement but also her desire to see the city grow economically.