Alabama State Parks celebrates 75 years

Over the past 75 years, the Alabama State Parks system has experienced a wide range of challenges and successes. Our parks have benefited from unique public programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps and public-approved bond initiatives to provide new customer conveniences and recreational opportunities.

In the last 20 years, the Alabama State Parks system has hosted a consistent visitation rate of 4 to 5 million customer occurrences each year, demonstrating that people love their parks. This same park system has consistently been recognized as being one of the most efficient in the nation, with 80 to 90 percent of its annual funding coming from customer fees, not taxes.

These achievements did not happen by accident. They are the result of more than 75 years of dedicated effort on the part of our elected officials, park employees, local partners and the patronage of our park supporters.

As we look to the mission of serving the public for the next 75 years, we will reflect on the hard work and dedication of those who preceded us, and take inspiration in the vision and foresight that provides us with what we have today.

-By Greg Lein, Director, Alabama State Parks