Outside the Lines Original: Steve Birmingham and the Spirit of Outdoor Adventure in Ouachita Parish
For Steve Birmingham, retirement didn’t mean slowing down - it meant finding new ways to get moving. After decades of work, Steve decided to embrace the great outdoors, trading in office life for long bike rides and peaceful paddles through the waterways of Ouachita Parish. What started as a search for low-impact activity quickly became a lifestyle, and today, Steve is one of the parish’s most passionate outdoor advocates.
“I retired in 2016 and wanted something low impact to stay active,” Steve recalls. “I used to run, but that was too hard on my body. So, I settled on biking and kayaking.”
He’s since cycled in 38 states and spends his free time collecting and restoring vintage Schwinn bikes. His garage has become a hub for neighborhood kids who come by to learn how to fix a flat tire, oil a chain, or simply get their bike road ready. “A lot of them don’t know how to maintain their bikes, so I show them,” he says. “They stop by pretty frequently now.”
Steve’s commitment extends beyond his block. Each year, he assembles donated bikes for Bike Week, partnering with the West Monroe Police Department to give them to local elementary students.
While biking may have sparked his passion, kayaking stole his heart. “I started paddling more during COVID,” he says. “We have so much water here in Ouachita Parish, but we didn’t have any formal paddle trails.” That realization motivated him to help launch the Ouachita Paddling Trails, now a growing network of mapped kayaking routes highlighting the area's river, bayous, and lakes.
One of his favorite trails? Black Bayou Lake. “In January, I watched bald eagles nesting out there. It’s about a two-mile paddle out to their nest, and I’d go weekly to check on them. The moment I saw a baby eagle’s wing rise from the nest - that was something special. That memory has really stuck with me.”
From eagles on Black Bayou Lake to beavers at Cheniere Lake, Steve says Ouachita’s abundance of wildlife and waterways make it one of the best places to paddle.
There's just something magical about being out there in the quiet, watching nature happen around you.Steve Birmingham
He encourages anyone curious about kayaking to visit local outfitters like Ouachita Paddle and Provisions. “They’ve got everything you need to get started - equipment, advice, and even a calendar of group paddles.”
Steve believes protecting natural resources is essential. “We only get one shot at this. If we pollute it or take it for granted, we’re going to lose something really valuable.” That’s why he continues to promote paddling, biking, and outdoor recreation - to inspire more people to get outside, connect with nature, and care about it.
Steve Birmingham isn’t just enjoying the outdoors - he’s helping shape it for the next generation. Whether he’s fixing bikes for neighborhood kids, paddling to eagle nests, or mapping new trails, his commitment to community and conservation is leaving a lasting impact.
As he says, “I just wanted something to keep me busy. Turns out, this was it.”
