Hello Mountaineers!

Your neighbors on the Monte Sano Civic Association have some important updates for you:
Thursday April 3rd Spring Social at the Monte Sano Park Lodge. Activities from 11 AM to 9 PM
Tollgate Greenway Approved! The City of Huntsville officially approved the Tollgate Greenway on February 13. It will be a 1.3 mile paved greenway from the Land Trust parking lot to the barricades where Fearn meets Bankhead Parkway
Save these dates: Thursday April, 3rd Spring Social; Thursday June 26th, 75th Anniversary of the von Braun team's arrival in 1950; Thursday September 25th, Fall Social; Tuesday December 9th, Holiday Party. All events at the Monte Sano Lodge.
MSCA 2024 Report Card and 2025 Goals.

Thursday April 3rd Spring Social: All Day Events and Dinner Potluck

The Events Team has organized a full day of activities. We can all emerge from our winter hibernation and enjoy each other's company at the State Park Lodge. We'll have a potluck dinner and BYOB. Activities include:

11 AM—3 PM: Muffins and coffee (provided by David Lewis)
11 AM—12:30 PM: Yoga, for both novices and experienced
1 PM—3 PM: Mahjong, 1—1:30 learn to play and then stay to play
3 PM—5 PM: (TBD)
5 PM—6 PM: Socialize with drinks (BYOB) and appetizers
6 PM—7 PM: Potluck Dinner and brief dinner program
7 PM—9 PM: Socializing

If you have any questions—-or would like to help out—-please contact our Social Chairman Don Masterson 256-337-7311.

Tollgate Greenway Approved by City and Work will Soon be Underway!

The Tollgate Greenway was approved by the City on February 13th. This million dollar project was funded equally by the city and 250 donors in a first-of-its-kind joint effort. The 1.3 mile greenway parallels Bankhead Parkway and will provide a 10 foot wide asphalt path that connects to the closed-off section of Bankhead. It is wheelchair-friendly for those less mobile, ideal for strollers, and cyclists can use the Greenway going up the mountain (and take Bankhead going down). This will take cyclists off the uphill portion, which will increase safety for cyclists and motorists.

Monte Sano’s Noel Estopinal (and current MSCA Board Member) served as the chairman of this effort and has worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality. It was a complex undertaking—-approvals were needed from the city, the state park, the Land Trust, various private landowners, and was all as the developers of the Summit.

The city is currently performing surveys and finalizing rights of way. The planned opening was summer/fall 2026, However this could be affected by budget realignments in DC as Huntsville is highly dependent on federal funding.

Save these dates: April 3rd; June 26th, September 25th, December 9th

The 2024 Board surveyed the residents and the number one response was “hold more events.” We took this to heart last year and 2025 will have at least these events—-a few more are in the works. (note: the chili cook-off would be a great one to repeat.)

Thursday April 3rd. Spring Social

As described above.

Thursday June 26th. 75th Anniversary of the von Braun team’s arrival in 1950

The 20th century’s greatest event was the moon landing, and the core team that did it was the von Braun team that arrived on Monte Sano in 1950, and teamed with Alabama GI Bill veterans for “History’s Greatest Collaboration.” These mountain residents changed the world, and they transformed Huntsville from a city of 14,000 to “America’s Best Place to Live.” We’re recruiting German and American Old Timers who can share their stories of this splendid saga.

Thursday September 25th, Fall Social

Celebrate the equinox and change of seasons with your neighbors!

Tuesday December 9th. Holiday Party

This annual tradition goes waaaay back and is always an annual highlight. We’re moving it from the traditional Thursday night to Tuesday to avoid conflicts with other holiday parties.

MSCA 2024 Report Card

The MCSA's mission is to “Protect, Preserve, and Enhance the Quality of Life on Monte Sano.” 2024 was a productive year for supporting this mission. Let's review 2024 Chronologically:

1. January Winter Road Closings

When the Boulevard was closed due to ice last January 17th, we contacted the city and within 8 hours the roads were open again. The six inches of snow this January 10th were plowed first thing in the morning, with all side streets plowed by mid-afternoon. The city has been very responsive to our requests.

2. Channel 19 Fence Improvements

We were all quite concerned when Channel 19 started building a “prison camp fence” with concertina wire along Monte Sano Boulevard. We met with Channel 19 and they agreed to remove the concertina, and to cover the fence with landscaping. These before and after pictures show the improvements.

3. More Social Events!

Working with the city, there were new signs installed in the fall. We've seen a reduction in speeding on Bankhead Parkway and Fearn Street and we're working for further enhancements. Excessive speeding remains a problem and is a top 2025 goal.

4. New Signs on Bankhead and Fearn

Working with the city, there were new signs installed in the fall. We've seen a reduction in speeding on Bankhead Parkway and Fearn Street and we're working for further enhancements. Excessive speeding remains a problem and is a top 2025 goal.

Map of signage on Bankhead Parkway and Fearn Street

5. New Mountain Directory

The 2024 Directory had a winter theme—-a timely reminder of how winter weather brings us closer together. Everyone pitched in to help their neighbors, including 4-wheeling (and sledding!) down the mountain for food and prescriptions. Special thanks to Directory Chairman Jeff McCracken for his tireless efforts to collect addresses, names, and numbers for our best-ever directory.

6. West Slope Long Term Preservation

The Gaslight “Strip Mine” was a wake-up call to the Mountain. After researching the status of the West Slope, we discovered that it was not entirely protected. Long term protection became an urgent priority, and we had numerous meetings with all the stakeholders. In October, Council President David Little announced to the membership that the city is working to ensure long term protection of the West Slope. Finalizing this is a key goal for 2025. Special thanks to Joe Pinnix and Bob Lawton for their efforts.

MSCA 2025 Goals

Our 2025 goals:

Permanent Protection of the West Slope.
Reduce speeding and noise on Bankhead Parkway and Monte Sano Boulevard.
Coordinate with all mountain groups: Monte Sano Village, the Monte Sano State Park, Community Watch, the churches, the Monte Sano Club, etc.
Update the Monte Sano Civic Association website to provide “one-stop shopping” for all the groups listed above.
Automate the membership dues renewal process and the membership list (too much of this is currently legacy processes that aren't automated).
Begin work on a detailed history of Monte Sano.
...and whatever new priorities come up. For example, at the beginning of last year, neither the Channel 19 Fence nor the Permanent Protection of the West Slope were on our list of Goals. We must remain flexible so that we can respond to new priorities as they arise.

2024 was a busy and productive year for us and we're looking forward to another busy and productive 2025.Thanks to all of our neighbors for all of their support and involvement. And please send us any suggestions on issues of importance to you. We hope to see you all April 3rd!

Your neighbors...

Ralph Petroff, President
Joe Pinnix, Vice President/Parliamentarian
Khati Paul, Secretary
Jeff McCracken, Directory
Fred Lanier, Treasurer/Membership
Kyle Siegrist, Communications
Don Masterson, Events & Hospitality
Noel Estopinal, Community Liaison
Rebekah Sanders, Special Projects
Patrick Wiles, Welcome Committee

March 2025 Newsletter