Report: 15 state parks on closure list, including Guntersville, Cheaha (al.com/WHNT)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Lee Roop | [e-mail]
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on April 15, 2015 at 2:07 PM, updated April 15, 2015 at 3:40 PM

Fifteen Alabama state parks are on a list of parks to close if Alabama can't resolve its budget crisis, AL.Com news partner WHNT News 19 reports. Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville would stay open.

The list of potential closures includes Guntersville and Joe Wheeler, two of the jewels of the system in north Alabama; Cheaha, home to the state's tallest mountain; and Lake Lurleen near Tuscaloosa.

Alabama State Parks Director Greg Lein issued a statement earlier saying state lawmakers intend to transfer $11.4 million from the 2016 budget appropriation for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Most of that money - $10.4 million - would come from state parks, because most of conservation money is committed to match federal dollars.

According to WHNT News 19, here is the full list of parks to be closed:

Bladon Springs
Chickasaw
Buck's Pocket
Paul Grist
Florala
Blue Springs
Roland Cooper
Rickwood Caverns
Cheaha
Lake Lurleen
DeSoto
Lakepoint
Guntersville
Joe Wheeler
Frank Jackson
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more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/report_guntersville_and_joe_wh.html#incart_most-commented_news_article
http://whnt.com/2015/04/15/alabama-state-parks-working-on-contingency-plan-to-close-up-to-several-parks-some-reportedly-in-north-alabama/



These parks are slated for closure because they have not consistently shown a profit. I had no idea that was a requirement for a state park! Until we got a budget-slashing Republican state house, it probably wasn't.

[shenmue]

1. The parks are for quality of public life

not some shitty corporate dollar grab.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Fees collected from the parks that remain open will be diverted to meet other state expenses.

So non-profit parks are now regarded as a burden.

[Hoyt]

3. That's a shame.. Guntersville is about as nice as any park in the country.

[yallerdawg]

4. We'll be watching!

They are not going to get away with this! Hopefully, this is just a wake-up call. Only operate for-profit parks? WTF?

Cheaha, highest point in Alabama, magnificent drive, Roosevelt-era constructions on top of mountain. No way!

Desoto State Park, Little River Canyon area, Lookout Mountain are national treasures.

Blue Springs -- a Southern treasure! Coldest water I have ever been in!

And all the rest, invaluable to Alabamians!

Time to wake up!

[SoLeftIAmRight]

5. Left Alabama many years ago - moved west

I have slept in five of these and visited most of the rest.

many great places in Alabama - sad that they are not respected