Mayor's Welcome
From the first visitors to the current residents, people have understood that Pike Road, Alabama was a special place. Certainly, the people that are fortunate enough to serve in a leadership role understand the blessings of the town. Pike Road's residents have a unique combination of a hospitality, work ethic and understanding of the importance of faith. Every feature that is treasured about the area can be attributed to the special character of our people.
According to U.S. Census figures, the Town of Pike Road grew by more than 1,600% during the first decade of the 21st century. Throughout this period of great growth, the Town of Pike Road has maintained a simple message: "Maintain Character While Planning For Progress."
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With the motto “Welcome Home,” it is no wonder so many new faces and families have chosen this place during the last ten years. However, the hometown feeling is more than a motto in the Town of Pike Road. It is a commitment based on the vision of our citizens.
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In 2005, citizens of the Town of Pike Road participated in a visioning exercise that established what we now know as the “Four Pillars” of the town. On the pages of this website, you will find more information on each of these pillars: quality of life, public services, planning and education. Our commitment to encouraging excellence in these four goal areas grows stronger as the Town of Pike Road itself continues to grow.
We hope you will feel at home here in this town and that, if you don’t find the information you need on this website, you will call Town Hall and let our friendly staff assist you. The Town of Pike Road is here for your benefit and your enjoyment. Let us know how we can serve you today.
Thanks and God bless,
Gordon Stone, Mayor
Proud Heritage: 1997-2010
Crossroads of Heritage and Hope
While Pike Road has only existed as a municipality since 1997, the Pike Road community has flourished for more than 175 years. Beginning with the arrival of the Meriwether, Mathews and Marks families around 1815, people began settling and farming the area in the mid-nineteenth century. As more families moved in, more services were needed, and by the early twentieth century, a booming small town had grown up at the intersection of Pike Road and Meriwether Road. (Pike Road, of course, was so-called because one had to pay a toll, or pike, to travel on it.) The crossroads community was referred to as the Pike Road community because of its location on the heavily traveled highway. The main intersection was home to several businesses, including cotton gins, a hardware store, livestock auction, post office, general store and doctors’ offices. One of the buildings that once housed these early enterprises still stands near the original town center and across Pike Road from the first Town of Pike Road town hall. This same location is now home to the Pike Road Veterans Memorial and Pike Road Founders Station, which was constructed using bricks salvaged from another historic building, the Kirksey Store.
The twentieth century brought continued population growth to Pike Road. While children’s education had been handled by individual families up to this point, the need for a consolidated public school was imminent. Within a few years, the people of the community had raised the money and procured the land for the schoolhouse, and the Pike Road Consolidated School opened in 1918. The school became a center for community activities and remained so until its close in 1970.
The close of the Pike Road School was just one of many changes that took place in the Pike Road area in the 1970s. With the growth of the City of Montgomery came new challenges for the quiet farming community. Residents realized that without local control over zoning regulations, their pristine surroundings and way of life might be lost forever if the area were annexed.
Responding to the effects of the expanding neighbor city, the residents of Pike Road first considered incorporation during this decade. Though this first consideration of independence was given up, the idea was revived in 1986. The obstacle to the second attempt was the prohibitive cost of the legal work involved in establishing a municipality. However, residents continued to grow increasingly aware of the threat the encroaching city posed to the Pike Road way of life.
At the same time that these early discussions of incorporation were taking place, new construction was booming in the Pike Road community. All of the new homes brought residents to the area in droves, and the population of Pike Road doubled during the 1980s. The population growth added more voices to the strengthening outcry for incorporation.
After years of discussion and pressured by a proposed plan to run the Outer Loop, an Interstate bypass, through the heart of Pike Road, citizens organized the final, successful incorporation effort in 1997. In order to make the vision a reality, a Pike Road attorney volunteered his time and legal services to the effort. At the time, 209 voters from the Glynlakes, Bean, Barnes and Meriwether Road neighborhoods were asked to vote on whether or not a city should be formed. Proponents of the idea spent countless hours going door-to-door, “selling” the idea to everyone they could reach and convincing them to go to the polls. On October 10, 1997, 151 of those voters cast their ballots in the referendum. 147 of them, or 97%, voted “yes” for independence. With the passing of the referendum, the Pike Road community became the Town of Pike Road, a Class 8 municipality.
Incorporation was not the end of the battle to preserve and build on the heritage of the Pike Road area. In the years since the initial vote was cast, the town has faced the challenges of raising revenue, maintaining roads, providing public services to citizens and staying ahead of the neighboring city’s efforts to annex land. During the town’s first years, council and planning commission meetings were held at Peace Baptist Church, the location where the vote to incorporate took place. It was at the Peace Baptist Church that discussions were had over how to best supply services such as water, sewer, road maintenance, fire and police protection to the citizens.
The location of the first town hall building, at 4902 Pike Road, was symbolic of city leaders’ commitment to preserving the heart of Pike Road, both literally and metaphorically. The former home is near the intersection of Meriwether and Pike Roads, at the original center of the Pike Road community. Town council and other committee meetings were held in the front portion of the building, which, in a salute to the town’s commitment to independence, was dedicated on July 4, 2005. Though town offices have relocated, the original town hall building is will soon be the heart of a town center, complete with a fire station, community activities facility and open space.
August 25, 2010, the Pike Road Town Council held its first meeting in the new town hall facility at Pike Road Station. Located just east of the intersection of Pike Road and Vaughn Road, the new facility symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter in the town’s history. The newly renovated building that now houses town offices was originally designed as an upscale grocery store. Now, it is one of Alabama’s municipal showplaces. With meeting space for official town business, training rooms that can be utilized by community groups, a large banquet room and ample office space, the new town hall meets the needs of the municipal government while offering citizens a place to gather.
2010 - 2015
The Town of Pike Road had an amazing experience of growth and development. The Town has categorized its development into four basic categories that are supported by a strong administrative system, conservative fiscal policy and a dedication to communication. The Four Pillars of the town are Planning, Education, Quality of Life and Services. As the Four Pillars are integrated into the daily activity, it becomes clear that they are a part of each and every decision that the town undertakes.
Over the time from 2010 to 2015, the town has experienced phenomenal growth. The development of property and the annexation of parcels within neighborhoods has made the town one of Alabama’s fastest growing communities. Yet at the same time, the town has been careful to not force annexation. Every individual property owner has been given the opportunity to enter the town at an casual pace. In 2010, the town was just over 5000 people. By 2015 the growth had surpassed 8000.
Accompanying the growth, the town has had the chance to host three major comprehensive planning activities. These consisted of engaging citizens in a process of planning. Individual ideas from every landowner were considered and implemented into the zoning, sub-division regulatory and construction standards. With these planning exercises the town has developed a model of growth to utilize with individual landowners. This plan for advancing the town engages all of the seven traditional communities within Pike Road area. By protecting the historic town centers and keeping open space a priority, the town anticipates continued growth. The planning and development was so successful that the town hired a full-time planning director to oversee these activities in 2015.
The educational growth of the town may be the most phenomenal story. As the town advanced, the growth continued to bring new people with great ideas and a dedication to investing in future citizens. Parents and individuals, that have chosen to make the Town of Pike Road their home, committed thousands of hours to study curriculum, take field trips to other cities to meet and learn from educational experts, etc. These leaders in the community divided into committees and actively engaged in the effort to define a new way of learning. Their efforts were focused on connecting the Pike Road School with universities and making sure that all children were treated as lifelong learners. The goal centered around building a challenging system that will bring confidence in the school. The citizens played a vital role in providing the school because they adopted a 16 mil property tax to make it possible. In 2014, a school board was created and a superintendent was hired. In 2015, the town experienced the popularity of the school as over 500 individuals seeking the 50 different initial teaching positions. Later in 2015, the school opened in a phenomenal new building and welcomed over 1000 new students. Also, in 2015 the town was able to purchase the historic school that was closed in 1970.This will serve as the second campus of the school.
The quality of life undertaking of the town has been driven by the effort to maintain the special nature of the area. Known as a place with hospitable people, Pike Road has always had a spirit of engaging people. Through the establishment of the Enhance Initiative, the town developed series of volunteer driven committees that were focused on keeping agriculture a part of the lifestyle, maintaining the recreational options and providing artistic opportunities for people. The ENHANCE Initiative also provided people the means to assist others through the PRICE Foundation and to support those in need through the P.R.A.Y.E.R. Team. The town has a full-time economic and community development director and she is continuously working with the business community to create new ways to add value to the community while creating jobs for the citizens. Results of the ENHANCE Initiative include a donation of land for an Athletic and Performing Arts Center.
When it comes to services, the town has also seen growth from 2010 to 2015. Currently, the town is investigating and studying the best ways to provide assistance in road maintenance and transportation. The town has developed a full-scale transportation plan making it unique for communities with 8000 citizens. Blessed with three volunteer fire departments, a great collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department, and a 24 hour ambulance service, the citizens have experienced a comprehensive array of public safety programs. Water and sewer services have grown in their availability and garbage and recycling programs are also available. The town also has two electricity providers and two gas companies.
The Town of Pike Road has taken advantage of the opportunity to grow in the areas that people have requested. People living in Pike Road have the opportunity to have a voice in the day-to-day operations of the town, yet they also have the assurance that Pike Road is growing in a manner that meets their needs. / The town offers a full array of administrative support in all of the activities of the Four Pillars. Likewise, the town through its communication program, has the chance to share its stories. Newsletters, social media, webpage and other tools are continuously reviewed to make sure that citizens are aware of the opportunities in Pike Road to “Maintain Our Character While Planning for Progress.”
Cultivating Quality of Life: The ENHANCE Initiative
What is ENHANCE: A Vision with Focus?
Exercise • Nutrition • Health • Agriculture • Nature • Community • Education
ENHANCE: A Vision with Focus—the “ENHANCE initiative” for short—is a long-term strategic plan designed to ensure that the Town of Pike Road continues to mature in the four areas identified by residents in 2005 as the keys to the municipality’s success: quality of life, community planning, public education and municipal services. We call these the Four Pillars. Focusing on the quality of life and community planning pillars, the ENHANCE initiative organizes tasks and teams in the seven key areas, shown below. The initiative also forms a bridge to the education plan and the provision of municipal services, building on the foundation of all that has been accomplished since the town was incorporated in 1997.
Why should the ENHANCE initiative matter to me? The word “enhance” means “to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability or attractiveness,” and this is the aim of the ENHANCE initiative—to build upon all that is good and make the most of the great potential that exists in the town and our people. For this reason, the plan has implications for every resident, present or future. Like a blueprint guides the construction of a structure, the ENHANCE initiative is a plan by which the future of the Town of Pike Road will be shaped. Just as blueprints are often tweaked during the building process, ENHANCE may be adjusted as priorities change or new ideas are embraced. ENHANCE is a long-term plan, a tool for improving the lives of the citizens of the Town of Pike Road, and our ENHANCE committees are responsible for many of our community events.
What role can I play in the ENHANCE initiative?
ENHANCE would not be possible without people like YOU! Just as the letters E-N-H-A-N-C-E make up the word, Exercise, Nutrition, Health, Agriculture, Nature, Community and Education are areas of interest identified by our citizens. The ENHANCE initiative offers committees that reflect each of these areas. We want you to choose a committee that best fits you. By joining with others who share similar talents and interests you will not only ENHANCE your quality of life, but also those around you. We look forward to seeing what all we can accomplish by working together. Please continue reading for a list of committees for you to be involved with. If one of these looks like a good fit for you, or if you have interests you want to share that are not included in the committees below, please let us know by emailing info@pikeroad.us!
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Pictured, Neighbors connect and get creative during the 2018 Hay, Look at Us! Hay Bale Decorating Competition.
The Agriculture and Stewardship Club facilitates a greater awareness of the role of agriculture and natural resources in shaping the past, present and future of the Pike Road area. Ongoing activities from the Agriculture & Stewardship Club include monthly seminars and workshops presented in partnership with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Proposed projects for the Agriculture and Stewardship Club include a community garden, planting celebrations, educational programs and Arbor Day events.
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Pictured, Ag & Stewardship Club visitors create container gardens with everyday materials during the 2019 Maximizing Garden Space workshop.
The Pike Road Arts Council engages citizens of the Town of Pike Road who have unique gifts in the fine arts and encourages the utilization of those gifts to bring a greater overall appreciation of the arts to the community. The council may host showcases featuring local artists as well as community education and outreach programs. We are excited to have a home for the arts in the Town of Pike Road. The Pike Road Arts Center is located at 944 Wallahatchie Road, and is home to classes, demonstrations, and art shows, and it is a great place to find unique, local gifts!
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Ongoing programs include art classes, the annual Plein Air Paint Out, a quilting group, and more. Click here to learn more about the Pike Road Arts Council.
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Pictured, Visitors paint strawberry still-lifes at the Pike Road Arts Center during a 2019 workshop.
The Pike Road Business Association facilitates a collaborative effort by business leaders in the municipality who seek to promote new business opportunities that complement the town. The Business Association presents Lunch & Learn, a quarterly networking and professional development opportunity for business people in and around the Town of Pike Road.
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Pictured, conversation and networking at the December 2019 Lunch & Learn.
Community Enrichment seeks to provide opportunities to strengthen families, build relationships in the community and foster individual growth that can then be shared to continue to make our town a special place to call home.
Neighborhood Leaders are representatives of each of the town’s more than 40 neighborhoods who serve as liaisons between those neighborhoods and the town, communicating opportunities to their fellow residents and bringing people throughout the town together. In the past, the Neighborhood Leaders have organized the annual “Hay, Look at Us!” hay bale decorating competition as well as a variety of other activities.
The P.R.A.Y.E.R. Team, or Pike Road Area Your Emergency Response Team, is made up of leaders from local churches to ensure the physical and spiritual needs of Pike Road residents are met in the case of tragedy. The team meets on a regular basis to work on projects such as creating a resource directory and identifying needs in the Pike Road area. Most recently, the PRAYER Team has been active in coordinating a safe response to the needs and challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Recreation and Health Service Corps will assist in the development of recreation facilities and the hosting of activities that promote exercise and healthy living in the Town of Pike Road. Proposed projects for the Recreation Service Corp include the Natural Trail grand opening, health and wellness activities and assistance with the future recreation complex.
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To learn more about the ENHANCE initiative, share your suggestions, or get involved, please connect with us by emailing info@pikeroad.us!
Maintaining Our Character While Planning for Progress
"When government officials, business leaders, and citizens come together to build communities that enrich people's lives, that's planning.” -American Planning Association
Wise planning of community infrastructure and development is one of the principles upon which the Town of Pike Road is founded. Decades of rapid, sprawling growth in eastern Montgomery County at one time threatened to put an end to the way of life generations had enjoyed in the communities of Pike Road, Mathews, Mt. Meigs, Cecil and others. When the Town of Pike Road incorporated in 1997, a vision of preserving our heritage and preparing for the future was embraced by town leaders.
The philosophy of smart growth is part of this vision. Smart growth emphasizes the importance of neighborhoods that are compact and people friendly, where residents can walk, bike or otherwise enjoy the outdoors safely. Smart growth municipalities look at planning from a long-range perspective, considering how today’s development will impact tomorrow’s community and region. Development values the preservation of farmland and open space and, thus, is focused on logical growth centers. Smart growth includes a variety of housing, commercial and business options and aims to preserve the area’s unique “sense of place.”
Because these are some of the very characteristics long associated with the Pike Road area, we are committed to the kind of planning that will build on the best the community has to offer.
Members of the Town of Pike Road Planning Commission are as follows:
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Chris Dunn, Chairman
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Bill Cornwell
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Sandy Cowen
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Doug Fuhrman
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Ty Glassford
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Pat Harris
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Tito Peterson
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Tommy Ratliff
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Click here to learn more about the Town of Pike Road's planning process.