What did Alabama award, and which communities are included?
Gov. Kay Ivey awarded six grants totaling about $1.2 million for outdoor recreation, ADECA announced October 21. Anniston, Decatur, Foley, Garden City, Mentone and Sylvania will use the awards for specific local projects. These are announced awards to municipalities, rather than a new application round for residents.
Official sources: ADECA October 21 award announcement
What will change in Anniston and Decatur?
Anniston received $199,180 for a trail connecting the Berman Museum and Longleaf Event Center, with a $49,795 city match. Decatur received $321,129 for trailhead parking and a 7,750-foot walking and biking trail to connect with Dinsmore Slough Trail at Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. Decatur’s matching contribution is $80,282.
Official sources: ADECA October 21 award announcement
What are Foley and Garden City planning?
Foley will put its $163,620 award toward an observation tower, parking and an elevated 115-foot boardwalk at Wolf Creek Park; the city will contribute $40,905. The notice says its boardwalk and parking will meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Garden City received $297,751, with a $74,438 local match, for eight recreational-vehicle campsites with water, sewer and electricity and a trail linking them to existing park facilities and the kayak launch.
Official sources: ADECA October 21 award announcement
What will the two DeKalb County projects provide?
Mentone received $160,000 for a 900-foot trail, an elevated overlook and accessible parking at Brow Park, with $40,000 from the town. Sylvania received $80,000 to repair the quarter-mile Kendra Dendy Currie Memorial Trail in its town park. Sylvania will contribute another $20,000.
Official sources: ADECA October 21 award announcement
Where does the money come from?
The awards come through the federal Recreational Trails Program, funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered in Alabama by ADECA. The release identifies matching contributions from each recipient municipality. It does not describe these awards as money paid directly to households or private businesses.
Official sources: ADECA October 21 award announcement
When can residents use the improvements?
The announcement does not give construction starts, completion dates, campsite booking arrangements or opening dates for these six projects. An award therefore does not establish that a new trail, overlook or campsite is already available. No resident filing deadline or new public application step is stated in this release.
Official sources: ADECA October 21 award announcement