Cahaba River Park receives grant to construct trailhead and 5 mile trail (video)

Last week, $3.3 million in grants were awarded by Governor Kay Ivey to expand recreational trails in several communities across the state. Included in the announcement is a $200,000 grant to the Shelby County Commission to construct a trailhead and a five-mile-long, multi-use trail at Cahaba River Park.

In January, Bham Now reported on plans to develop the Cahaba River Park by Shelby County and the state’s Forever Wild Program alongside the Cahaba River in western Shelby County near the Bibb County line.

Here is a video of the Cahaba River Park that was released by the Shelby County Commission this fall.

Cahaba River Park – Fall 2017 from ShelbyAL on Vimeo.

River advocates such as the Cahaba River Society are enthusiastic about the new trails.

From the Bham Now article earlier this year:

“The Cahaba River Society is so pleased that Shelby County and Forever Wild are working together to establish a public park along the Cahaba River.  That is a beautiful part of the Cahaba that hikers, paddlers, and anyone else who enjoys the outdoors will really appreciate,” stated Randy Haddock with the Cahaba River Society

Both Forever Wild and the Shelby County Commission have protected nearly 1500 acres for the park.

Along with the grant for the Cahaba River Park, grants were also given for trails to 17 other community projects throughout the state.

The grants were awarded from funds made available to the state from the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the program in Alabama.

“Outdoor trails lead to healthier minds and bodies, and they are a great investment in our state and communities,” Ivey said. “I welcome these new or improved trails, and I encourage everyone to visit one and experience the outdoors that Alabama offers.”

For more information about the Cahaba River Park visit the Shelby County Tourism website.