A $15,000 grant announced by Gov. Robert Bentley will push the petals a little faster on a project to build a specialized track for mountain bike riders in West Alabama.
The Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority and the West Alabama Mountain Bikers Association will use funding to build a pump track at Sokol Park in Tuscaloosa. Pump tracks are short, but challenging, dirt courses for bicyclists that feature knolls and sharp turns. The tracks have become popular in part because cyclists of all skill levels can ride them.
“Popular recreational pursuits change and evolve, but the mental and physical benefits remain the same,” Bentley said. “I am happy to support community efforts that draw people to our parks and playgrounds and promote fitness.”
The authority proposes to construct a track of at least 2,500-square-feet located near an existing 11-mile mountain biking trail system. The biking association has assisted the authority with other biking projects and has volunteered equipment and labor to build the pump track.
The authority is providing a $15,000 match for the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. Bentley notified Gary Minor, park authority director, that the grant had been approved.
The LWCF program, created in 1965 by Congress, assists states with the development and preservation of outdoor recreational facilities. The property for the 340-acre Sokol Park was purchased in 1973 with an LWCF grant.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs supporting law enforcement, economic development, workforce development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
--30--
Contact Jim Plott or Larry Childers 334-242-5560