Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater is a blueprint for community-centric design
When Albertville, Ala. city leaders set out to redevelop Sand Mountain Park, they had a clear vision. First and foremost, the park would serve as a vital community asset by prioritizing residents’ daily needs and driving economic growth through sports and entertainment tourism. With this dual mission in mind, the leaders turned to the team at Dix.Hite + Partners to bring their dream to life.
The firm embraced three core values to guide its approach: designing “Parks Within The Park,” “Promoting Community Health,” and “Stewarding The Land.” These principles were integral to creating a space that balanced the needs of athletic and special events with the desire for a park that enhanced daily life. The result was Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater, a 130-acre, multiuse facility that has become a model for community-centric design.
Designing “Parks Within The Park”
Sand Mountain Park boasts an impressive array of athletic facilities, including 16 tennis courts, 15 athletic fields, and a Miracle Field for players with disabilities. It also has an 8,000-person capacity amphitheater and RV camping for special events. But what truly sets the park apart is how it blends these venues with spaces designed for everyday use.
Each “park” within the site was thoughtfully planned to provide a diverse range of experiences. For instance, a family attending a baseball tournament might be drawn to the nearby playground where younger siblings can play, or to shaded picnic areas designed for relaxation. This versatility enhances the park’s appeal to a broad audience and maximizes its utility year-round.
Throughout the design process, Dix.Hite treated each venue as a smaller park unto itself. This approach allowed for the creation of complete experiences for all visitors, not just athletes. Parkgoers will find playgrounds and social gathering spaces nestled within the ballfield complexes and arrival plazas for each venue.
In addition to improving the user experience, this strategy helps distribute visitors throughout the site, preventing overcrowding in any one area. As a result, the park feels intimate and inviting despite its considerable size.
“We sought for every detail of the park to promote equity, deepen connection to place, and improve the overall quality of life in Albertville,” states John Chambless, AIA, senior principal with Chambless King Architects, the prime consultant architect for the project. “In the three years since its grand opening, Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater has done just that, becoming a showpiece facility and the heartbeat of its community.”
Promoting Community Health
From the beginning of this project, Dix.Hite kept in mind that the park does not exist in a vacuum. A larger community exists outside its borders, and the team did its best to build the park into that community. A four-mile pedestrian trail system links all the park’s venues and extends into surrounding neighborhoods and an elementary school, encouraging daily use and fostering active lifestyles. The trail system offers more than a way to get from one place to another—it’s a lifeline that connects residents to outdoor fitness equipment, playground experiences, and each other.
Beyond physical health, Sand Mountain Park has become a powerful driver of economic health for Albertville. Because youth sports programs are a major source of Albertville’s identity and pride, the community of 22,000 people voted to implement a sales tax and saved for over 15 years to fund the park’s development—an investment that has already shown significant returns. In 2023 alone, the park generated over $23 million in economic impact for the region. Future projections are even more impressive, with annual impacts expected to exceed $120 million, including the creation of 1,200 jobs and $35 million in total labor income.
The economic benefits have been tremendous, but equally important is the impact on community pride and quality of life. New businesses are moving into the area, citing the park as a major factor in the decision.
Patrick O’Brien, Vice President of Venue Management for Sports Facilities Companies and former General Manager of Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater, underscores the park’s broader impact: “We’ve seen firsthand how this park has helped revitalize the City of Albertville and Sand Mountain region. We host over 100 sports tournaments/events and roughly a dozen concerts per year, and the park has proven time and time again to be a place that brings the community together. The economic growth is a bonus, but the real reward is the way this park has dramatically improved the quality of life for this community.”
Stewarding The Land
Both the design and development of Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater were guided by a deep respect for the natural landscape. The principle of environmental stewardship was central to the project’s philosophy. “From the beginning, we recognized the importance of working with the land’s existing features, rather than imposing upon them,” says Kody Smith, CEO of Dix.Hite + Partners.
Although the Sand Mountain plateau’s sandy soils, shallow rock depths, and abrupt grade transitions required careful planning, the design team maintained the park’s natural character by working with existing topography while providing state-of-the-art facilities. The firm turned these challenges into opportunities. For example, team members used the natural topography to create amphitheater seating and preserved wetland areas as natural features within the park.
Native plantings, stormwater-management features, and preservation of existing ecosystems contribute to the park’s long-term sustainability. There was also a large emphasis on maximizing tree preservation, which resulted in more saved trees than removed ones. Many of the removed trees were harvested, and others were ground into energy-producing wood pellets. Hundreds of native trees and thousands of native shrubs and grasses were planted to support biodiversity and reduce overall water use after establishment.
Reaching For Creative Solutions
As communities look to invest in public spaces that can drive economic growth while enhancing quality of life, Sand Mountain Park offers valuable lessons. Through careful planning, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s possible to create spaces that truly serve the needs of all community members.
- Assemble a comprehensive design team: Projects like these need experts in civil engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, and sports-facility planning. A professional estimating team and feasibility consultant are also crucial to ensure the project’s scope and scale are appropriate.
- Conduct thorough site due diligence: Understanding the site’s characteristics, including developable area, environmental sensitivities, and soil conditions, is essential for successful planning and budgeting.
- Consider the entire user group: Don’t only focus on the athletes and spectators. Think about siblings, parents passing time between games, and casual visitors. Providing amenities for everyone keeps people in the park longer and increases overall satisfaction.
- Prioritize shade and comfort: Shade can often be overlooked but is critical for user comfort. Incorporate both natural shade from preserved trees and constructed shade structures throughout the park.
- Plan for flexible spaces: The ability to host a variety of events, from sports tournaments to concerts and community gatherings, can significantly enhance a park’s value to the community.
The public reception of Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater has been nothing short of remarkable. In its first year of operation in 2021, the park hosted over 75 events, ranging from concerts and banquets to charity events and sports tournaments, and it has continued to grow. In the end, this project is a shining example of how aligning design philosophies with community needs can produce a dynamic, sustainable, and beloved public space.