Alabama State Parks saw a marked increase in visitors last year, as their welcoming outdoor environments provided citizens with a safe way to leave the house amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A release from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) on Thursday relayed that 6.27 million individuals visited Alabama’s parks during the fiscal year ending September 30, more than 1.5 million than the year previous.
“Alabama State Parks has always been one of the state’s true treasures, and it’s gratifying to know so many people recognized that fact and visited the parks last year,” remarked Chris Blankenship, ADCNR commissioner, in a statement.
Alabama has 21 state parks that encompass around 48,000 acres of land.
High visitation rates are crucial to sustaining Alabama’s state parks, as between 80 and 90% of their budget comes from customer fees.
A key driver of the 2020 visits was players on the six golf courses located in the state parks system. Per ADCNR, 61,235 rounds were played during the fiscal year ending in September, a year over year increase of 39%.
“I remain intensely grateful to Gov. Kay Ivey for making the courageous decision to keep our parks open,” noted Blankenship. “People needed an outlet for recreation, and the amazing staff at our parks made sure people could visit safely.”
ADCNR is also reporting that occupancy at their campsites went up 9.5% last year, even as the popular Joe Wheeler campground was inoperable for much of that time due to a December 2019 tornado.
We know our parks offer some of the most beautiful natural scenery anywhere in the world,” said Alabama State Parks Director Greg Lein.
“We’re also proud that our parks offer activities and attractions that promote safe recreation while social distancing. That’s a unique blend that explains why so many people visited the parks in 2020, and we hope it continues in 2021 and beyond,” he concluded.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
