From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Alabama Scenic River Trail met on the banks of the Cahaba River in Trussville with state lawmakers and local stakeholders Monday to highlight the importance of a state-wide sign system that is making it easier for boaters to access Alabama waterways.
Alabama Scenic River Trail Acting Executive Director Andrew Szymanski addresses a small group of local leaders at a recent ceremony on the banks of the Cahaba River in Trussville. (Photo courtesy of Laura Gaddy)
Senator Shay Shelnutt, Representative Danny Garrett, Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat, Trussville city councilmembers Lisa Bright and Ben Short, and Cahaba Riverkeeper founder Myra Crawford stood creekside at Civitan Park shortly before noon to learn more about the sign program during a ceremony. Also in attendance were Alabama Scenic River Trail employees, board members, and volunteers.
Rep. Garrett spoke briefly about the role of outdoor recreation in recruiting and retaining a competitive workforce to and in Alabama. He is a member of the Alabama Innovation Corporation Board of Directors, which seeks to spur innovation and entrepreneurship in Alabama for the 21st Century.
“This type of effort is going to be very critical in growing the state, retaining the workforce, and attracting people here,” Garrett said, referencing the Alabama Scenic River Trail’s state-wide sign program.
The Alabama Scenic River Trail is a 6,500-mile network of waterways designated for recreational use in Alabama. It is the longest single-state river trail in the nation, and it has been named a National Water Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The river trail’s core section, a 650-mile path from northeast Alabama to the Gulf of Mexico, attracts elite athletes from across the country each year for the longest annual paddle race in the world, the Great Alabama 650.
Rep. Danny Garrett, R- Trussville, addresses a small group while standing in front of an Alabama Scenic River Trail directional sign. (Photo courtesy of Laura Gaddy)
“Trussville affords our residence many outdoor recreational opportunities, and the Chabaa River is part of that,” Mayor Buddy Choat said. “The city fully supports any efforts to promote the Cahaba river since the head of the river does start here in Trussville.”
The Cahaba River section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail begins in Civitan Park in Trussville. A sign there marks the first in a series of access points that help paddlers explore this valuable waterway. This sign is part of a network of signs that span the state and help kayak and canoe enthusiasts access Alabama waterways in Trussville and beyond.
“One of our big tasks is promoting Alabama’s waterways here and all throughout the state,” ASRT Acting Executive Director Andrew Szymanski said. “One way we try to do this is by educating local residents about the paddling opportunities in high-traffic areas all across the state of Alabama.”
