With the goal to connect the state’s regional and local trails with economic and recreational opportunities from the mountains to the gulf, the Sweet Trails Alabama team has released its statewide comprehensive trails plan.
It started with a Swing Around the Tour State just over a year ago, and after involving thousands of stakeholders and residents from the mountains to the gulf.
According to organizers, the plan will serve as a guide for the state and its partners to build out a trail system that connects Alabama’s historic and natural destinations.
The document identifies and maps existing trails and presents a statewide network composed of regional and local trails to connect all 67 counties, their communities, and major cultural and natural resource destinations across the state.
“This game-changing plan sets a vision for making Alabama a premier trails state, bolstering small towns and communities, accelerating innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering sustained economic development, and providing opportunities for healthy living and quality of life for all Alabama residents and visitors,” said State Sen. Andrew Jones, who spearheaded this effort. “This will be a long-term endeavor but we aren’t waiting.”
The plan stemmed from the work of the Hoover Institution in their Innovative Alabama report to the Alabama Innovation Commission in which one of the main takeaways and recommendations is for the state to expand its outdoor recreation industry, enhancing the state’s attractiveness to high-skilled workers and yielding substantial returns for both rural and urban communities.
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Trails are a critical, desired, and unmet need in Alabama outdoor recreation that are needed to keep Alabama competitive with its peers, the report said.
The plan includes a comprehensive focus on all trails, including hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, and OHV/ATV riding. While the statewide system priority is hiking and biking, all trail uses are inventoried and expanded upon with this
“This is a great example of what is possible when everyone works together,” said Anna Clem, interim executive director of the Singing River Trail. “Our successes as a state will help all of our collective and individual trail projects. I feel fortunate to have been part of the state’s first plan.”
Jacksonville State University and Singing River Trail administered the project with Alta Planning + Design leading the planning and development.
“We already have great trails in Alabama – we need to continue investing in extending and connecting trails to show off what Alabama has to offer,” said Tim Lindblom of Jacksonville State University. “This plan gives us the starting point for that work.”
The Sweet Trails Alabama team is developing a trails toolbox for communities and trail feasibility studies spread across the state to advance trails toward development.
“Our goal is to leverage state, local, federal, and private funds to build out a trail system in Alabama,” said Jones (R-Centre). “And this is already happening. This plan should help accelerate that and proves what we can do when we work together.”
During the statewide planning process, federal grants totaling over $100 million were awarded to build out trails in such cities as Montgomery, Birmingham, and Huntsville.
“We look forward to continue working with all partners and build on this tremendous success,” said Jones.
The final plan can be found at https://sweettrailsalabama.org. For a list of trails, visit https://seekalabama.com.
