Live HealthSmart Alabama (LHSA) officially celebrated the completion of community improvements made to Selma’s built environment with a ribbon cutting on January 31st at the East Selma Community Pond and Park. Through generous funding from Novo Nordisk Inc. and strong partnerships with the City of Selma, local organizations, and residents, these improvements were designed to create a healthier, more connected community.
Restoring Community Spaces
For years, the East Selma Community Pond and Park had been a beloved community space for residents to enjoy. However, a powerful and devastating tornado struck in 2023, severely damaging the structure surrounding the pond, leading city officials to shut down the park.
Recognizing the need for action, LHSA partnered with Novo Nordisk, Cadell Construction, Alabama Power, the City of Selma, and other local organizations to restore the park and improve accessibility, safety, and opportunities for healthy living. The pond and infrastructure improvements were led by LHSA’s Built Environment Director Dr. Fouad Fouad, helping to ensure the improvements were both sustainable and impactful.
“These improvements contribute significantly to better community health and quality of life,” said The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) President Dr. Ray L. Watts. “Live HealthSmart Alabama is having a tremendous impact in Birmingham neighborhoods and now in Selma, for which we’re very proud.”
The completed improvements include:
- Community Pond and Walking Trail: Restoration of the walking trail and pond area, including a new retention wall, a fountain located in the center of the pond that changes colors at night, upgraded gazebos, new benches, repaired drainage, and trash receptacles, and a restored restroom facility.
- Sidewalks: 4,245 linear feet of new and repaired sidewalks, ensuring safer walking paths.
- Crosswalks: 17-high visibility crosswalks at 14 intersections for improved traffic safety.
- Landscaping: Addition of 15 new trees, 30 shrubs, and 40 plants along the walking trail and pond.
- Lighting: 37 new light fixtures and 9 new poles to improve visibility and safety.
- Signage: Installation of a new welcome sign, trail map, rules and regulations, and 12 pole banners.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg for what has been done for Selma, shared Mayor James Perkins, Jr. “We want to thank you [UAB, LHSA, and partners] so much for the work that has been done to help us move these resources into our community.”
These upgrades reconnect residents to the East Selma Community Pond and Park, providing more opportunities for recreation and healthy living.
“Live HealthSmart Alabama and these projects are all about making good health simple,” said LHSA CEO Dr. Mona Fouad. “People want access to affordable healthy food, to safely walk and enjoy exercise, and to receive preventive screenings and counseling about their health. Live HealthSmart Alabama is about making that accessible.”
A Community Celebration
The ribbon cutting event drew an incredible turnout, with guests including U.S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell, representing Alabama’s 7th congressional district, the Selma City Mayor James Perkins Jr., Selma City Council President and Ward 8 representative Michael Johnson, UAB President Ray L. Watts, LHSA CEO Dr. Mona Fouad, Novo Nordisk, the Alabama Dept of Insurance, Caldwell Construction, and other local leaders, including the city’s beloved Reverend Scott of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. The community came together, filling the park to celebrate and share their excitement about the revitalization efforts.
During the event, Council President Johnson and Mayor Perkins personally thanked LHSA and its partners for bringing the project to life. More importantly, they invited residents to join them by the podium – a moment that perfectly reflects the heart of LHSA’s mission.
Mayor Perkins emphasized the community’s role in managing the improvements moving forward. “Revitalizing the park is one thing. Sustainability is another,” he said. “It is up to us, the people who use these resources, to maintain and sustain what we have. To be proud of it, to hold on to it, and to keep it so that our children will want to come back and be a part of our community.”
Congresswoman Sewell expressed similar sentiments, sharing, “If we don’t band together as a people, we perish as a people, and I just want to say how proud I am of the East Selma community.”
More Than Infrastructure
In addition to physical improvements, LHSA is working to address broader health needs in Selma. Monthly pop-up farmer’s markets now provide residents with fresh, healthy produce, helping to address food access challenges.
LHSA launched wellness services in March 2024 and has provided over 345 health screenings at no-cost to residents. Through these screenings, we identified that 20% of participants were uninsured and 32% did not have a primary care provider. To address these gaps, LHSA’s Community Health Coaches help connect individuals with insurance options and primary care providers.
LHSA’s commitment to improving health outcomes across Alabama doesn’t stop there. Plans are underway to expand services with a new Mobile Wellness van and a Mobile Market van. These services will begin in Selma and continue into areas such as Demopolis, Camden, and beyond, as the initiative expands across the Black Belt.
Jennifer Duck, Vice President of Public Affairs at Novo Nordisk, Inc. remarked, “We tend to focus on healthy fruits and vegetables and how do we prevent diseases by making sure people have access…but you have to have the education. You have to have housing. You have to have lights. You have to have exercise. It isn’t just one thing.”
“Our goal is to extend this across the state of Alabama and hopefully influence for the better the health of every citizen in this state and every family in this state,” said UAB President Watts.