By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – Friends of Shades Creek, a nonprofit working for the protection and development of Shades Creek, held its annual picnic on Sunday, May 4 at Oak Mountain State Park.

The picnic was initially scheduled for Saturday, May 3 but was rescheduled due to inclement weather. The picnic was held in the South Trail Head area of the park at the Honeysuckle pavilion.

After lunch, attendants took a short trail walk at the Tree Top Nature Trail to see the raptors at OMSP, taking in the park’s natural splendor.

Michelle Blackwood, the president of Friends of Shades Creek, said that the event was an overall success.

“It was a good time,” Blackwood said. “It’s not anything out of the ordinary, it’s just a picnic. I don’t think it’s changed very much (over the years). We get together and we usually cook out and eat hamburgers and hot dogs. It’s nothing fancy, just a good time to get together.”

Blackwood added that the Friends of Shades Creek is an organization built on intentional community.

“We enjoy each other’s company, and we are very committed in our mission of protecting Shades Creek,” Blackwood said. “Getting together for a picnic is just another way to enjoy our friendships that we share.”

Shades Creek is 56 miles long, flowing through six cities in the greater Birmingham area. Friends of Shades Creek is a volunteer-based organization led by 11 members of a board of directors and an executive director. Meetings for the organization are held on the second Thursday of each month at Homewood Public Library at 7 p.m.

For more information on the Friends of Shades Creek, visit Shadescreek.org.