National Park Service
A Study of the Park and Recreation Problem of the United States 		NPS Logo

ALABAMA

THE POPULATION, which is 64 percent white, is predominantly rural farm in character. It is evenly distributed over the State with the exception of the large concentration in Birmingham and its environs and a thinning out toward the Florida boundary. The majority of the Negro population is located in Birmingham and through the central part of the state from east to west. The economic conditions of a majority of the people are such as to preclude extensive travel for recreational purposes.

The outstanding recreational sections of the State are the mountain regions in the north and the Gulf shore in the south, neither of which are of such a character as to attract vacationists from beyond adjoining States, streams are generally too silted or polluted to be adapted to wide recreational use. The Gulf coast, while primarily a summer resort, has limited appeal to winter vacationists, The mountains, due to climatic conditions and scenery, offer fine opportunities for summer recreation.

The State has in the process of development a well-distributed system of areas for the white population, but additional facilities located near the people for day-use activities are needed. The largest amount of publicly owned acreage should be located near Birmingham and in the mountains. There is also a great need for State and local areas for Negro use. The greatest amount of acreage for this race should be near Birmingham and in the central part of the State. Additional Gulf frontage in public ownership is warranted. Attention should be given to clearing up streams in order to make them available for recreational use.

map
(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)



FEDERAL

National forests: Existing
acreage		 Proposed
additions
26. Tombigbee purchase unit1,559
39. Talladega325,571
45. Black Warrior174,175
62. Conecuh68,749
     Total
1570,054


National wildlife areas:
l. Petit Bois Bird Refuge523
50. wheeler Migratory waterfowl Refuge41,800
     Total
42,323


National parkway:
14. Natchez Trace (authorized)
3,400

Recreational demonstration area:
52. Oak Mountain7,805.19

Soil Conservation Service land utilization project:
89. Tuskegee2355

Tennessee Valley Authority areas:
15. Wilson Reservation50
16. Muscle Shoals Park400
17. Nitrate Plant Res. No. 270
47. Wheeler Park1,100
     Total
1,620



STATE

State parks:
3. Gulf (including Gulf-Morgan Parkway)4,522
6. Cedar Creek660
24. Chickasaw560
29. Little River2,120
38. Valley Creek1,080
53. Oak Mountain940
71. The Lagoons240
73. Weogufka803
79. Monte Sano2,111
80. De Soto4,650
82. Cheaha2,639
86. Chewacla822
94. Chattahoochee596
     Total
21,743


Proposed State parks:
5. Mobile County
400
18. Dismals

20. Tuscaloosa Area
400
27. Silver Creek Falls

32. Big Tree

36. Dallas County
400
42. Jefferson County
1,600
44. Clear Creek Falls

48. Limestone County
550
49. Finley Island Bluff
80
51. Birmingham area
800
54. Turn Around

57. Montgomery area
500
58. Montgomery County
500
77. Gadsden area
200
78. Guntersville

     Total

5,430

State monuments:
22. Mound260
72. Fort Toulouse770
74. Talladega421
83. Horse Shoe Bend5
     Total
693
70

Proposed State monuments:
30. Fort Mims

68. Pocosins


State forests:
63. Panther Creek5,040
66. Pea River331,327
     Total
36,367



LOCAL

Proposed local parks:
4. Baldwin (1 area)
40
7. Washington County (1 area)
40
8. Choctaw (2 areas)
120
9. Sumter (1 area)
100
10. Greene (1 area)
100
11. Pickens (2 areas)
120
12. Lamar (1 area)
80
13. Marion (1 area)
60
19. Fayette (1 area)
80
21. Tuscaloosa (1 area)
100
23. Hale (2 areas)
140
25. Marengo (1 area)
100
28. Clarke (2 areas)
120
31. Escambia (1 area)
40
33. Conecuh (1 area)
60
34. Monroe (2 areas)
160
35. Wilcox (2 areas)
140
37. Perry (1 area)
100
40. Bibb (1 area)
40
41. Shelby (1 area)
40
43. Walker (1 area)
40
46. Lawrence (1 area)
40
55. Elmore (1 area)
60
56. Autauga (1 area)
60
59. Lowndes (2 areas)
140
60. Butler (2 areas)
160
61. Covington (1 area)
40
64. Coffee (1 area)
40
65. Dale (1 area)
40
67. Crenshaw (2 areas)
100
69. Pike (1 area)
60
70. Bullock (2 areas)
140
75. Talladega (1 area)
100
76. Etowah (1 area)
40
81. Calhoun (1 area)
60
84. Chambers (1 area)
100
85. Talapoosa (1 area)
40
87. Lee (1 area)
100
90. Russell (2 areas)
140
91. Barbour (2 areas)
100
92. Henry (2 areas)
120
93. Houston (1 area)
60
     Total
43,560

Municipal parks:
95. Mobile (1 area)267
96. Montgomery (2 areas)280
97. Birmingham (2 areas)314
     Total
861

1 Area under Federal administration June 1938.

2 Acreage being developed for recreation, portion of large project.

3 Soil Conservation Service area transferred to State Division of Forestry for administration.

4 16 parks (980 acres) for whites; 38 parks (2,580 acres) for Negroes.


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park-recreation-problem/alabama.htm
Last Updated: 18-May-2016