Much of north Jefferson County’s social life is lived around Gardendale’s ball parks, civic center and senior center.

One of the favorite spots on hot days is the Splash Pad on Fieldstown Road. A part of Celebration Park, the Splash Pad stays busy all summer. Surrounding Celebration Park are two regulation-sized soccer fields at the Kenneth Clemons Soccer Complex, a flag football field, practice field, multipurpose area and walking track.

On the other side of town are boys’ and girls’ sports complexes. Luman Harris Park on Pineywood Road has three softball fields and the Miracle League Field, which is for children and adults with special needs.

The boys’ complex is at Moncrief Park, which features five baseball fields and an 80-yard youth football field. The park also has tennis courts, a children’s park and a pavilion that can be rented.

The Gardendale Civic Center is also a magnet for individuals and families. The center features a gym, basketball court, walking trail and gives numerous fitness classes. In addition, the civic center plays host to civic, garden club, business and other meetings; concerts; plays; the annual Gardendale Magnolia Festival and other events.

Nearby, the Gardendale Senior Center is a home away from home for dozens of the city’s more mature

citizens. Director Peggy Burgess oversees the center’s activities, which include providing a hot meal to at least 30 seniors a day, bingo, educational speakers and exercise classes.

There also is live music at the center at least three days a week. On Thursdays, Glen Tolbert plays bluegrass. Men in Black play for a dance every Tuesday, 6-9 p.m.

Four bands rotate the first through fourth Tuesdays to play different types of music. They are: The Fultondale Boys, Skip and Friends, Brookridge Drifters and the Old Timers.

Also, on the last Thursday of each month, the center throws a party for everyone who celebrated a birthday during that month. Members bring a dish to the potluck birthday bash every month, where Benny Kent entertains the crowd with Elvis songs.