Natalie Kelly: Enjoy spring break at an Alabama State Park and call your Senator
With this year’s Spring Break season upon us here in Alabama, the thought of a week of rest and relaxation is a welcome idea at the end of winter’s cooler months. While others spend thousands of dollars and fly or drive hundreds of miles in search of the perfect Spring Break getaway, you and your family can indulge in a similar escape, right here within your state. This Spring Break, take advantage of Alabama’s beautiful weather to enjoy fun and adventure and build lasting memories, all while soaking up the natural beauty abundant in Alabama’s 17 State Parks. From the lower Appalachian Mountains to the Gulf Coast, there is a State Park within easy driving range offering a great selection of many different adventures. Hikers can tackle more than 200 miles of various levels of trails located throughout the State Parks. Golfers can try their hand a number of different highly rated golf courses. Explore the massive cave at Cathedral Caverns, or simply lounge on the beaches of Gulf State Park or enjoy a phenomenal sunset atop of Mt. Cheaha. Get out on the way and catch some bass, crappie, or catfish in one of the lakes or creeks within Lakepoint, Guntersville or Wind Creek State Park. The parks also offer a wide range of accommodations. Whether you want to rough it camping in the wilderness or enjoy the amenities at a hotel or lodge, there’s something for everyone. In fact, Alabama State Parks boast close to 2,300 campsites, more than 200 cabins and 350 resort hotel rooms. Thanks to public and private partnerships from all around the state, many of the parks have opened a range of new and exciting attractions in recent years taking the outdoor experience well beyond simple camping, fishing, and hiking activities. Take a thrill ride while zip-lining at Gulf State Park’s Hummingbird Adventure Course, rent stand-up paddle-boards at many park locations, try your hand at wake boarding at Oak Mountain’s hydraulic wakeboard cable course, or take to one of the many award-winning biking trails within the park system. What many people may not know is that our state parks generate most of their own funding each year. In recent years, Alabama State Parks have had to endure several crushing budget cuts. As a result, five parks were forced to close due to lack of funding. Many others had to be temporarily closed during the winter season including Rickwood Caverns and Cheaha State Park, both of which are set to reopen soon and return to full operation — just in time for spring break. To help ensure our State Parks remain the true gift they are and accessible the public all year long, I encourage you to frequent them often — the benefit is mutual. One more thing, while you’re dreaming of that relaxing vacation, take a minute to call your state legislator to encourage a positive vote for Senator Clay Scofield’s SB260 that would allow all of us the right to vote to secure future funding for our parks. Scofield’s bill, which is currently making its way through the Legislature, is a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit the transfer of any park funding to any other public account. If the bill passes, we will have the right to vote in November to prevent these devastating transfers. To learn more about our State Parks, visit the Alabama Parks Partners website. Join the coalition of individuals, businesses, community groups, student, and all lovers of Alabama State Parks to help protect these state treasures. The coalition often sponsors talking sessions at parks across the state to share information vital to friends of Alabama Parks System. See updates on the website or visit the Facebook page for upcoming events. We can’t wait to have you join us at the parks during this Spring Break — we promise you’ll discover one of your best vacations yet. • • • Natalie Kelly is an Alabama’s State Parks Partners coalition steering committee member. She’s a passionate advocate for the environment, sustainable communities and social progress. As the founder and CEO of Sustain and the founder and publisher of MyGreenBirmingham.com and MyGreenMontgomery.com, she helps communities and businesses identify, strategize and champion sustainability initiatives and helps tell these stories of innovation and progress. Kelly was recently named one of the Birmingham Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” professionals.
Clay Scofield: Here’s my plan so future generations enjoy our state parks
Alabama’s State Parks are treasures that should be cherished and protected for future generations. Unfortunately, over the past few years, the parks system has suffered from multiple budget transfers to fund other General Fund agency shortfalls. I have a plan that will help to permanently fund our state parks and keep these God-given resources available for future generations. Our state’s General Fund has faced great challenges the past few years in terms of identifying adequate funding for state services. To fill those shortfalls, funds were transferred from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the State Parks to fund other areas of government. Since 2012, $30 million has been transferred from the DCNR, and $15 million of this came directly from the parks system’s accounts. I have a plan to stop this unfair practice of taking money directly from our parks to fund other areas of government. I’ve proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow citizens to vote this November to protect Alabama State Parks’ funding forever. This constitutional amendment would prohibit any further transfers from the parks system’s funds to the state’s General Fund. The people of Alabama deserve the opportunity to have a voice about the future of their State Parks. Alabama State Parks have always operated on a slim budget and are unique. Unlike other state agencies, which receive appropriations from the state’s General Fund each year, state parks earn most of their own funds through guest fees. Unfortunately, millions of dollars made at the parks have been transferred to other state agencies over the past few years. Half of the more than 4.5 million visitors to Alabama State Parks come from out of state. The parks provide an economic boost of more than $375 million, a significant return on investment compared with most other state agencies. The Alabama State Parks System is also unique in the minimal support received from tax dollars. The parks generate more than $30 million from guest fees each year, which makes up 80 to 90 percent of the parks system’s annual budget. Other state parks systems in the Southeast, and across the country, receive considerable contributions from taxpayers. In Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, state parks’ revenues account for only about 65 percent of the total cost of operating the parks. In Tennessee, less than 45 percent of the operating costs of the parks are made at the parks; the rest comes from tax dollars. Other states heavily contribute to the success of their parks system with tax dollars. In Alabama, we take from the parks to fund other government agencies. The continued loss of this revenue has caused our parks system to begin implementing emergency contingency plans across the state. What does that mean? To cut costs, the system has been forced to close five parks. There are now seasonal closures for facilities at a number of other parks, and one park has transitioned to day-use only and made other operational changes to save money. In addition, it is likely the fees for services already offered at our State Parks will have to be increased in the near future. Again, this has not been caused by anything the State Parks are doing wrong or inefficiently. As a matter a fact, even after terrible natural disasters — such as Hurricane Ivan, which destroyed the state’s most profitable park on the Gulf Coast, or the tornadoes of 2012 that ripped through the campground at Guntersville — the parks’ staff and its supporters rallied to ensure the parks system continued to prosper even during these difficult times. Like many Alabamians, I have spent countless hours making memories in our State Parks, and I want to ensure that all families in the state can continue this legacy. I’ve always been amazed at the wide array of people who use and enjoy our parks. They are people of all interests and income levels – state residents and tourists alike. It’s time we let the people of Alabama decide if our parks will be a priority. I have no doubt the outcome will be an overwhelming “Yes.” Before this measure can reach the citizens on the ballot in November, the Legislature must first vote in favor of this amendment to protect our parks funding. Reach out to your local state representative and state senator and ask them to support this constitutional amendment. • • • Clay Scofield is a state senator from Guntersville, Alabama. He represents the 9th district. He represents Blount, DeKalb, Madison and Marshall counties.
Jim Zeigler pushing constitutional amendment to prevent “raid” of state parks funds
State Auditor Jim Zeigler may occupy the executive branch, but that isn’t stopping him from getting involved in his favored issues during Alabama’s ongoing Legislative Session in Montgomery. Zeigler released a statement Monday night declaring his support for SB 260, a bill that would “stop the raiding of state parks revenues to fund other programs,” as Zeigler put it. Specifically the bill – sponsored by Republican Sen. Clay Scofield – would call for an amendment to the state constitution that would require revenues earned by the parks to stay in the parks’ operating budget. In recent years, state budget writers and Gov. Robert Bentley have chosen to close nearly half a dozen parks and reduce services in others, despite the parks’ general solvency. Funds from the parks have sometimes gone to subsidize other priorities through the Legislature’s general revenue fund. State parks have long been a priority for Zeigler. He recently accused the Bentley administration of mismanaging the parks system and using it as a cudgel against conservatives. “SB 260 is the first step in my plan for the state parks,” said Zeigler. “The parks internally generate around 85 percent of the money needed to operate. With tweaking, the parks can be self-funding, using NO tax dollars — requiring no money from the financially-strapped general fund. The Bentley administration would no longer be able to use the state parks as a political football, threatening closures if tax increases are not passed.”
