A park in progress

Results of a new master plan for Oak Mountain State Park could soon turn into action. 

However, it’s too early for park officials to say what amenity upgrades it might bring about, especially while specifics for the park’s funding are still uncertain.

Planning for the future

The master plan has included a public survey that generated more than 3,000 responses and nine specialized teams assessing the park on foot, mountain bike and horseback. 

Shelby County Chief Development Officer Chad Scroggins said these teams have mapped out around 104 miles of trails and studied the park’s infrastructure, buildings, parking, restrooms and amenities, as well as use by visitors. Their goal is to see what needs improvement and what could be added to better the park.

All these assessments will be finished and prioritized by the end of July, and Scroggins expects cost assessments for some of the recommended projects will be finished as well. Sometime before September 30, the draft of the master plan will be ready.

“Then we’ll get some action on getting some stuff done, which will be nice,” Scroggins said.

The possibility of a hotel and convention center has brought the park under a lot of public criticism. County Manager Alex Dudchock said they are currently studying the legal structure, management and financial feasibility of such a project, which he estimated would impact between seven and 10 acres of the park. The next step of the process is a site and infrastructure assessment, but Dudchock emphasized that careful consideration would be given before funding this evaluation.

“The last thing we want to do is do a project such as that, that could adversely impact any of these other elements that [are] operating off the same source,” Dudchock said. 

With the project priority list that the assessment teams are producing, the park and its partners can then begin planning what projects will become a reality. There is no official list of projects yet, but both Dudchock and Ezell mentioned possible improvements that have been suggested by visitors and park staff.

Upgrading the RV campgrounds’ electricity capabilities to 50 amps, from their current 30 amps, is one such project in high demand. Ezell would also like to build more rental cabins at Lake Tranquility, as they are currently filled above 80 percent capacity year-round and almost completely full in the summer.

Other possibilities include restrooms and showers, rowing boats, equipment for the Oak Mountain Grill and rental yurts, which are wood and canvas structures that look like a blend of tents and cabins.

“We want something for everybody. When you’ve got 9,940 acres, there should be something available, passive and/or active use, within the park,” Dudchock said.

Funding will determine how much of the park’s wish list will be fulfilled. The Shelby County Commission has pledged between $1.5 million and $2 million over the next five years, and the city of Pelham may also choose to contribute. However, Oak Mountain also relies on state funding from the entire park system, and that adds a new layer of uncertainty.

Funding worries

The finances of the state park system are currently in flux as the Alabama legislature considers its budget for the 2016 fiscal year. The budget originally approved would have transferred $9.2 million from the state parks budget to the state’s general fund for use on other projects. This budget was vetoed by Gov. Robert Bentley, but a new budget had not been approved as of this issue’s print date.

Greg Lein, the state parks division director for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said the removal of this funding would cause repercussions across the system. His department had originally identified 15 parks that could close if the original budget passed. Now, however, he said there’s too much uncertainty to know whether parks would close or be limited. Much of the impact would be determined by the revenue from the busy summer season.

“We never have a significant cash balance in our two [capital and revolving] funds,” Lein said. “It’s still a concern for us.”

Oak Mountain is consistently profitable, but many of its sister parks are not. If the budget transfer is approved, Oak Mountain would not stay untouched by the issue.

“A healthy park system as a whole is good for every park,” said Philip Darden, the steering committee chairman for the Alabama State Parks Partners Coalition, an awareness and support organization for the park system. “They all operate with the same funding. It’s not like the money Oak Mountain makes stays at Oak Mountain.”

Ezell said these funding cuts would impact not only master plan projects, but also current amenities. Depending on the severity, Oak Mountain could consider closing some of its less profitable features, such as the petting farm.

“It’s really a dilemma that will confront the entire state park system,” Lein said. “They are all in jeopardy in some form or fashion.”

When the original state budget was passed and park closures were being considered, the Parks Partners Coalition formed to encourage more residents to go out and use their local parks. Darden said he hopes eventually the coalition can become a fundraising organization if the park system ever needs it. According to the coalition website, Alabama state parks receive around 4.6 million visitors per year, about half of them from other states, and generate around $375 million in annual economic impact.

Coalition members include businesses and other organizations that use or appreciate the state parks. This includes the Vulcan Orienteering Club, which meets at Oak Mountain State Park about once a month from September to May. The club’s public relations officer, Alina Tuganova, said Oak Mountain has great terrain and elevation for orienteering, which involves using specialized maps to find the way from one point in the park to another.

Tuganova said the orienteering club supports the Parks Partners Coalition because they share a goal of encouraging people to use the parks. Though she understands that the state is facing budget difficulties, Tuganova hopes the solution will not be park funding cuts.

“One of the things that makes Alabama unique [is] Alabama’s parks and green spaces,” Ezell said. “I really think that the state should do everything possible to keep state parks open.”

While the financial uncertainty continues, both Lein and Ezell emphasized that much of the daily operation budget for parks comes from entrance fees and other visitor revenue. Lein said park attendance has been increasing, with 2014 being the best revenue year in at least 20 years.

“User fees are what run our parks and keep our parks viable, so to support our park just come out and use our parks,” Ezell said. “That’s the best way to show your support.”