Thanks to Alabama voters Oak Mountain State Park is experiencing a renaissance
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Last November, Alabama voters approved Amendment 2 to prevent money from the Alabama State Parks System being transferred to other agencies covered in the state’s General Fund.
Because of its passage, the parks are now able to begin making delayed maintenance and improvements and to budget for long-term projects.
One of the biggest beneficiaries is Alabama’s largest State Park – Oak Mountain State Park.
Summer Improvements
This summer, Oak Mountain State Park will be bustling with new projects throughout the park.
For example, Oak Mountain State Park, in conjunction with the Shelby County Commission has re-worked a beach area near its Alabama 119 entrance, added three new fishing and swimming piers, a volleyball court and an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalk.
Addition to the Alabama Wildlife Center
Along with the enhanced recreation area near the Alabama 119 gateway, the county, the State Park and the Alabama Wildlife Center have joined forces in the financing and construction of enclosures for a Eurasian eagle-owl and two bald eagles (Bham Now reported on this project last December).
“We are busy with a lot of projects at Oak Mountain State Park that will help our visitors enjoy their time outdoors with us,” stated Kelly Ezell, Superintendent at Oak Mountain State Park.
Along with the re-worked beach area and the new eagle/owl enclosures, Oak Mountain will begin work by the end of summer on providing new bike lanes from the north trailhead to the back gates. Park officials are also planning to build a new mountain bike trail.
Made possible by Alabama voters
“Amendment 2 has helped us get some of this work underway that had been put on hold due to budget concerns. We were thrilled that an overwhelming majority of voters agreed that it was important to keep the money they were paying to enjoy our parks in the parks’ budgets,” Ezell concluded.
Nearly all of Alabama’s State Parks are making repairs and improvements this year. Check out the list – here.
