Local News
Decisions made on OHV park development
By David LazenbyBy David Lazenby
davidl@cullmantimes.com
Officials driving the development of an upcoming off-highway vehicle park got a go-ahead Tuesday from county commissioners to seek additional funds to pay for the park and spend part of the state funding already garnered for the 1,456-acre facility.
Cullman County Economic Development Director Sammie Danford intends to apply for grant money from a Land and Water Conservation Fund to pay for construction of amenities for equestrian use at Stony Lonesome OHV park.
Danford said the $1.8 million in funds already garnered from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs cannot be used for portions of the park for horseriding because ADECA stipulates the grant money be used specifically for motorized vehicle recreation.
County Attorney Dan Willingham said limitations on grant money should be stressed because of complaints he had heard about preferable uses for the funds.
“This is specific ear-marked funding,” Willingham said. “It’s basically free money, but it is for this purpose and you cannot alter it. I know people are hollering ‘$2 million dollar project — why didn’t you do X-Y-Z?’ Well, the state said do X. That’s all you can do.”
According to a CED press release, ADECA funding for the project is expected to continue through 2010.
The $100,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant requires the funds be matched by the county dollar-for-dollar. The county’s portion would be due in September.
Danford reminded commissioners county officials would not be required to accept the grant money if it decides to decline the funds.
Danford also got approval to apply for a $575,000 grant requiring an 80-20 match that will be used to construct trails and build amenities. If the grant is approved, the cost of the county’s portion of the project would be $115,000.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Stony Lonesome OHV Park manager John Sellers received authorization to send county park and recreation employees to an upcoming training program for employees who will develop the park’s single- and double-track trails. Seller said the program, to be held in August, will cost about $30,400. Funds from grants earmarked for this purpose will pay for the training.
“At the end of this one-month program, we would have four to six of our staff people trained in development of the trails (and) marking of the trails,” Sellers said. “Our target has always been ... to open in the fall very specifically with the quality area family park we talked about. In order to do that, we have to be trained.”
Officials hope the park, located near Bremen off of Alabama Highway 69, will become an economically lucrative attraction that will increase area tourism and draw new businesses to the area.
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