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July 14, 2006

Options discussed for ORV park

Evan Belanger

The courtroom was full, but it wasn't night court Thursday when county officials hosted a public meeting to discuss options and concerns for the planned outdoor-recreational-vehicle park in the Dodge City area.

Dozens of county residents showed up for the meeting, making complaints and issuing statements of support for the park.

According to one resident, Maurice Drummond, who lives on land directly adjacent to the proposed park location, no amount of monitoring or enforcement will make it a positive for the park's neighboring residents.

Drummond said the area is already overrun with trespassers, who go into the woods to illegally hunt and consume intoxicating beverages.

He said the park will just open the area up to renegade riders, who will have no respect for the rules.

"It doesn't matter if you put up a fence. They'll cut it," he said.

Drummond said trespassers even go so far as to vandalize a cemetery in the area.

Other concerns raised included noise, pollution and increased traffic on area roadways.

Despite the complaints, supporters said they welcomed the park because it would bring more income to the county as a whole and provide people with a safe, controllable place to ride.

"I'm definitely for it," said Hanceville resident Frank Arnold. "This is big positive for riders. There's no place else in the state like this, and I'd much rather spend my money here."

Arnold is also the sales manager at The Sport Center, which sells all-terrain vehicles. He described the sport as a family activity people should be able to enjoy without breaking the law or driving to parks in far-off locations.

According to County Commission Chairman Wiley Kitchens, the purpose of the meeting was to gather input from residents.

He said the next step is to look at their concerns and attempt to incorporate them into plans for the park.

The county has already begun processes to acquire land for the park, which will add to the 168 acres already owned by the county in the area.

Kitchens said five property owners have already agreed to sell, but more are being sought.

According to County Economic Development Director Sammie Danford, their goal is to create a park with more than 1,300 acres. In additional to ATV trails it will also have locations for off-road trucks.

She said other possibilities inlcude trails for mountain bikes, dirt bikes, horses and walkers.

The county has already received a $469,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for the first phase of the park, and it has pledged a match of $117,250.

Over a five-year period, the county could be granted as much as $2.5 million for the park, according to Danford.

Kitchens said some trails could be open for riders within two years.

He emphasized the purpose of the park is not just to make money.

"This is something we want to build for families," he said.

According to Associate Commissioner Doug Williams, the park will benefit the county's economy across the board, bringing in more dollars to compensate for the rising costs faced by all governments.

"We need to find additional sources of revenue. The cost of everything is going up," he said. "I have no fear the revenue from this park will be anything but huge."

The county is still accepting concerns and comments about the park. Forms can be picked up at the Economic Development Office or at The Sport Center on 1st Avenue.

They can also be downloaded on the Economic Development Website at www.co.cullman.al.us.



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