State parks closing or reducing operations as result of budget crunch

The Alabama State Parks System is implementing a new contingency operations plan that will go into effect today as a result of the Legislative budget cuts for fiscal year 2015-16.  This plan includes closure of a number of parks and park operations, reduction in staff and operational hours at additional parks and park facilities, as well as a potential concession operation for one facility and other new approaches to serving the public. Beginning October 15, the following five parks will be closed: Bladon Springs, Paul Grist, Chickasaw, Florala and Roland Cooper.  In addition to the closure of five parks, a number of parks and park facilities will reduce staff and operational hours. Those include: Rickwood Caverns and Blue Springs to be closed during fall and winter; Desoto and Cheaha Lodge & Restaurant will operate on weekends only during fall and winter; the system will attempt to transfer Lakepoint’s golf course to a concessionaire, and if that is unsuccessful, the golf course will be closed; closure of Bucks Pocket campground and transition to an unmanned, day-use only park to be managed by a nearby resort park.

There will also be a number of additional revenue options implemented in October that include: day fees at parks will transition from $4 per adult to $5 per adult (smaller parks with fewer amenities may receive a different fee structure); 8 percent increase on select base lodging rates, coupled with a new 5 percent discount for Alabama residents; increase in marina slip rentals; new resort fee to address resort maintenance costs not directly tied to other fee structures; new park pass program to capture the present unrealized day-use revenue in ungated parks; and a new backcountry permit to attend to trails and related backcountry recreational services/programs.