Northport Park Getting Playground Thanks to Donation from Nick & Terry Saban

A public park in Northport where upgrades are already underway will now be the home of a new playground, thanks to a donation from Nick & Terry Saban.

The Northport City Council approved a resolution Monday night to spend a little under $70,000 on playground equipment for Civitan Park on Main Avenue.

The 5-acre park, shaded by trees and just up the road from historic downtown Northport, is in an exceptional location but lacks many amenities aside from the walking track there.

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On Monday, city administrator Glenda Webb said the park will soon be upgraded with an inclusive playground for all children, funded by a donation from the Sabans and the charitable foundation they run.

"We want to thank the Nick's Kids Foundation and Nick and Terry Saban for their donation because they did donate toward the purchase of this playground equipment for Civitan Park," Webb said.

Webb also credited Council President Christy Bobo for securing the donation - Bobo told the Thread that she helped launch Nick Kid's long before she was elected to represent District 1 in Northport, back when she was working for the University of Alabama Athletics Department full time.

She said she helped connected the Sabans with the city of Tuscaloosa to facilitate the addition of the first playground they funded on the Riverwalk here.

Their Nick's Kids Foundation has since helped fund a playground at the Alberta School of the Performing Arts and Mason's Place, the all-inclusive playground at Sokol Park.

Now, even after Nick Saban's 2024 retirement as the head coach at Alabama, their foundation will fund this playground at Civitan Park in Northport, which Bobo said should be finished and open to the public this Spring, perhaps as soon as March.

"This couldn't have been possible without the generosity of Ms. Terry Saban and Coach Nick Saban and their partnership, which is so special to me because I helped them start the Foundation here in Tuscaloosa," Bobo said. "Being a part of this and using this connection to serve our community in Northport is a really good heartstrings moment for me."

The council approved a purchase requisition of $69,830.13 to get the playground equipment from Struthers Recreation on Monday night's consent agenda.

Ms. Terry Saban told the Thread their donation comes after many requests from residents in Northport.

"Several families had contacted us regarding their children using the playground and how important it was to their community.  We were happy to help in a small way," Terry Saban said.  With all of today's technology, computers, television, and video games, it's important to help children have access to outdoor playing."  

"All the credit goes to Ms. Terry and Coach Nick, because of everything they do in our community throughout Tuscaloosa County. They do so much for children that we wouldn't have a pulse on, wouldn't be able to do without their support," Bobo said. "To see them give back to Northport is really special - they still care about our community."

For more coverage of news in west Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.