Last updated: March 2025
The Africatown Connections Blueway project aims to create a recreational water trail by linking 14 culturally and historically significant points along a 10-mile route (Ref 1). Central to this initiative is the preservation of Africatown's rich heritage and natural resources. The project seeks to reconnect residents of Africatown, descendants of the original founders of this self-governing community, which maintained a strong sense of African cultural heritage, to waterways that were historically vital for food, transport, and spiritual practices (Ref 1). By restoring access to these waters, the community can address both environmental and social issues, promoting eco-tourism and business growth while safeguarding cultural heritage (Ref 2). Local leaders emphasize the environment’s role in healing the community and preserving history, highlighting how this initiative can provide economic opportunities and improve quality of life (Ref 2). The project seeks to address the environmental injustices that Africatown communities have endured for decades. The area surrounding Africatown has long been dominated by harmful industries, including aluminium plants and paper mills, which have heavily polluted the water and restricted residents' access to it (Ref 1). With support from the National Park Service and contributions from Mississippi State University, the Blueway transforms neglected river access points into recreational areas, promoting environmental stewardship and cultural awareness (Ref 2).
Map of the africatown-blueway-connection project, with 14 points of interest that highlight natural, historical or cultural themes along a 10+ mile route
https://mobilebaykeeper.org/blog/take-me-to-the-river-the-africatown-connections-blueway/ accessed on 22/08/2024
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Deltas
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Conversion of former industrial areas
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Environmental and climate justice
- Sense of community and community engagement
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Poor water quality
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Other
Key priorities
Social Justice and community
Focus
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, River rehabilitation/ restoration, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Post-industrial site regeneration, Strategy, plan or policy development, Creation of city-wide or neighborhood green and blue infrastrcuture protection or enhancement strategies/plans, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities
Project objectives
1) Transform neglected river access points into safe recreational spaces, with docks, lawn spaces and walking trails (instead of the current muddy riverbanks with lots of dirt and overgrown bushes) (Ref 2).
2) Preserve Africatown's rich history and natural resources (Ref 1).
3) Reconnect the community to its waterways (Ref 1).
4) Address environmental injustices caused by industrial development (Ref 1).
5) Promote eco-tourism and provide economic opportunities (Ref 2).
6) Improve water quality and remove dirt (Ref 2)
Implementation activities
1) Upgrading infrastructure at key sites with the construction of pocket parks and green spaces, with docks, lawn spaces and walking trails for enhancing public access points for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing (Ref 2)
2) Restoration of the natural environment, where previously harmful industries were active, through clean up work (Ref 2)
3) Concept planning by Mississippi State University: creating plans for transportation, recreation, and shoreline restoration addresses previous environmental and social challenges by improving the area's sustainability and accessibility (Ref 2).
4) Community Engagement: involving over 200 residents in planning ensures that the project reflects community needs, addressing past disconnection and fostering a sense of ownership (Ref 2).
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Riverfront communities, Communities near industrial areas, Minority or marginalized ethnic groups
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Disadvantaged ethnic or racial groups, Vulnerable populations in disaster-prone areas
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
- the Alumni Association of the Mobile County Training School: envision the project (Ref 1)
- Africatown leaders (Liz Smith-Incer, Major Joe Womack, Anderson Flen, and others) (Ref 1)
- Africatown’s C.H.E.S.S. organization (Clean. Healthy. Educated. Safe. Sustainable.) has developed a trail map and booklet showcasing the points of interest (Ref 1)
- Africatown Heritage Protection Foundation (AHPF): coordinate the project
- the Mississippi State University’s Department of Landscape Architecture students: formulated concept plans (Ref 2)
- with technical assistance from the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance program (ref 2)
- Regional government of Alabama: allocated funding to Mobile County (through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act funds) (Ref 1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Africatown Connections Blueway is a part of the Mobile County Blueway system (Ref 1))
Type of enablers
Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
- Other funding sources are unclear
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Other funding types are unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Expected increased green space area
- Restoration of derelict areas
- Expected restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Expected more sustainable tourism
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
- Expected stimulate development in deprived areas
- Attraction of business and investment
- Expected attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Expected improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Expected enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Expected protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Preserved spiritual and religious values
- Expected preserved spiritual and religious values
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Expected increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Expected increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Expected increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Wilkes, S. (2023). Take Me To the River: The Africatown Connections Blueway. Mobile, Al: Mobile Bay Keeper, p. 1-9 Accessed on August 22, 2024,;
2.
Gach, M. (n.d.). Reconnecting Creeks to Culture in Africatown. Mobile, Al: National Park Service, p. 1-4 Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Africatown HPF (n.d.). Africatown HPF Donations - Africatown Connections Blueway. Mobile, Al: Africatown HPF , p. 1 Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Smith-Incer, E. (n.d.). Africatown Connections Blueway: Healing Begins by Reclaiming Our Heritage and Happiness. Mobile, Al: American Trails, p. 1 Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
5.
weichert.com (2024). Africatown demographics 1. Mobile, Al: weichert.com, Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Wilkins, C., Kemp-Rotan, R. (n.d.). Racialization of space and spatialization of race. Mobile, Al: The Architectural League, p. 5. Accessed on August 22, 2024, [Source link];
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.