University gets eastern portion of River Road Park
Tuscaloosa News – July 22 (Parts of this story appeared in the print edition only.)
The University of Alabama was granted the half of the former River Road Park East it didn’t own, and will take control of the park Aug. 1. The eastern 4.03 acres of the park, now called the Park at Manderson Landing, had belonged to the federal government, but was listed as surplus last year and eligible to be transferred to a local or state government to be kept as a park. “This is the first time in about the 60-year history of our program that we’ve transferred land to an educational institution,” said Bill Huie, program manager for Federal Lands to Parks, based in Atlanta…Don Kelly, PARA’s executive director, said PARA withdrew its application after meeting with university staff about the use of the park if UA got the transfer. “The community is not going to lose a park,” Kelly said. “That’s an area the local community, the city and PARA won’t pay to maintain anymore, but the community won’t see a difference.”…”We look forward to working with PARA on the transition and appreciate their support,” said Cathy Andreen, UA spokeswoman, in a statement. “Plans for the property, including a facility for the UA rowing team, are in the very preliminary stages.” In November, UA administrators told trustees that they wanted the park to include a building to store the rowing team’s boats, along with dressing rooms for the team. The building will also have a snack bar, vending area, public restrooms, exhibit area and a meeting room available for UA and public use, according to board documents. The River Walk will be extended through the park, and the city is planning a pedestrian bridge to span Jack Warner Parkway to connect campus and the River Walk, according to board documents. Also, a public fishing dock was included in UA proposal to the federal government, Huie said.
Associated Press – July 22
Students Take Part in DIRT Camp
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – July 21
Some students got down and dirty out at the University of Alabama Arboretum today. It was all part of the Alabama Dirt (Directed Investigations and Research for Teens) Camp. The camp is for middle school-aged girls who are interested in enjoying the outdoors…