After the April 27 tornado smashed through Franklin County in 2011, Northwest-Shoals Community College closed the Cecil Clapp Nature Trail and outdoor classroom on the Phil Campbell campus. 

Now that trail is reopening.

The trail formerly featured an observatory an outdoor classroom used for kindergarten through 12th-grade instruction and community events, but the trail was damaged by the 2011 F-5 tornado that came through Phil Campbell. 

With funding from the Northwest Alabama RC&D Council and Alabama Power Foundation, the trail has been revitalized, and the college is holding its grand reopening April 26 at 2 p.m. 

The reopening will be held at the revitalized outdoor classroom, which will be named in honor of former NW-SCC science instructor Joe Mark Alls. 

The event will include a ribbon cutting with the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and a performance from the NW-SCC Jazz Band. 

NW-SCC President Glenda Colagross will be on hand to make remarks, along with Rep. Jamie Kiel, Rep. Proncey Robertson, Northwest Alabama RC&D Council office manager Vanessa King and Alabama Power community relations manager Melinda Weaver.