Physically active communities tend to be healthier communities. That’s why the Bold Goals Coalition of Central Alabama has been working with many partners in Walker County to improve access to outdoor recreational opportunities. One of our key strategies is to implement the Walker County Lake Master Plan, which is focused on creating new and easily accessible ways for Walker County residents to enjoy the great outdoors.
A major milestone of the Master Plan was reached on February 6th as we celebrated the opening of the two-acre Walker County Community Archery Park at Walker County Lake. This park was “built by our community, for our community,” said Jenny Brown Short, the Livable Communities Chair of the Walker County Health Action Partnership.
The park is the first of its kind in Alabama with an elevated shooting platform that meets outdoor-accessibility guidelines for individuals with physical disabilities. This kind of accessibility is important anywhere, but it’s especially important in Walker County, where 19.6% of residents have a disability. There is no fee to use the park, but residents between the ages of 16 and 65 are required to have a valid hunting, fishing or Wildlife Heritage license.
This project happened only because so many partners committed to work together from a shared plan toward a great community outcome. The Walker County Health Action Partnership took the lead on construction of the park with cooperation from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, the Walker County Commission, the City of Jasper and the Archery Trade Association. Funding for the project was provided by the Walker Area Community Foundation.
Other organizations and agencies that made this park possible include the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Forestry Commission, Boy Scouts of America – Black Warrior Council, McGehee Engineering, United Way of Central Alabama, Vulcan Materials and ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division with additional funding through hunting license sales and federally matched Pittman-Robertson Act funding.
For more information about the Walker County Community Archery Park, visit https://www.outdooralabama.com/archery-parks/walker-county-community-archery-park
The Bold Goals Coalition is 200 organizations solving big community problems by aligning partners, resources and agendas.