State Park offers memories

Local residents, elected officials, employees of the Alabama Forestry Commission and others came to a grand re-opening of the Claude D. Kelley State Park in the Little River Sate Forest on Highway 21 last Saturday, March 17, to share memories and possible plans to find financing for the park's future operations to keep it open permanently.

"This place brings so many great memories for me," said Rep. Harry Shiver. "I had the most fun here. I've dedicated myself to trying to get it open. They're running short on money. This is a fine park. We are going to try to get it back to the way it used to be. I've had many good times here and I hope to have many more."

Known as Little River State Park for years, lack of funding has threatened to shut down the property for good. Temporary funding had provided the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) the chance to open it on weekends while exploring the possibility of locating a vendor to take over operations and financing.

Elected officials have stepped up to explore possible ways to fund the property that has been a landmark in Escambia County for almost eight decades. Many hope that between Monroe County Commission and Escambia County Commission, funding may be made available.

"We are hoping for some in-kind services from both county commissions," said Sen. Greg Albritton. "It is the interest of legislators to keep this place open and be improved so it can be used. We've got to develop it, advertise and use it."

"We have a beautiful rivers in Escambia County, none more beautiful that Little River," said Escambia County (Ala.) Commissioner Larry White. "We are exploring the possibilities of ways we can support and help the Alabama Forestry Commission to keep it open."

The two most needed upgrades for the park are a new septic tank and well, and there is a bridge that needs to be rebuilt to support large trailer of RVs coming into the camping areas.

"This big for Escambia, Monroe and surrounding areas," said Rep. Alan Baker. "We hope there will be a collaborative effort between Monroe and Escambia counties to promote finding funding. We will continue to provide efforts in Montgomery to find funds to improve infrastructure, such as the bridge, and whatever we can do to expand, like making an RV park, and more. I continue to hear memories and over the years people who have bee here and love this place."

Currently, the park will be open only on weekends, with an entry fee of $2 per person, and offers covered pavilions for $50 a day, covered tables and grills, fishing, a boat launch, a hiking trail, a wheelchair accessible bathroom and sandy area for swimming. The cabins are not in use currently and there are not boats for rent, although the boat launch is available.

"Right now groups can have bow shoots," said retired AFC employee Gary Cole. "There is a nice hiking trail and plenty of space to ride mountain bikes. We are hoping to expand the camping for recreational vehicles (RVs) with electrical and water hookups to attract snowbirds from the north."

Cole said that the park could motocross events in the future, but four-wheelers are not allowed.

"If the public does not participate, we cannot keep the park open," said Alabama Forestry Commission state forester Rick Oates. "This is such a lovely park and it would be a shame for it to close. We hope people will come enjoy it and make it a great place to make more memories."