BUMP
Vulcan Orienteering
Club
Vulcan Trail
Association
Birmingham Audubon Society
Alabama Wildflower Society
GC
Cycling
Alabama
Environmental Council
Sierra
Club
Alabama
Trails Association
Oak Mountain State
Park
International Mountain Bike
Association
USA
Cycling
Neighbors
of Oak Mountain State
Park
Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Keep
Vestavia Green
Appalachian
Trail Association
Birmingham
Bicycle Club
We also represent the interests of Golfers, Fishermen, Swimmers,
Parents with children, Picnickers, RV users, etc.
Our group was formed in response to some of the recommendations
contained in the Executive Summary of the “Master Plan for Oak Mountain State
Park” submitted to the DCNR by its consultants. Out of concern over the nature,
scope and cost of the projects recommended in this document, we have been in
dialogue with the DCNR for several months working toward the best solution for
enhancing the Oak Mountain
experience.
Our work thus far is an ongoing analysis of the projects proposed in
the Master Plan, and provides response and recommendations to the DCNR with
respect to these projects. This document
will serve as our “high level” series of recommendations to the DCNR, and will
be followed by a more detailed set of recommendations and plans.
Our approach to this project is to divide
the Master Plan into discreet areas of focus, and form a working group
(committee) to address each.
By assigning each of the Master Plan’s 22 recommendations to the
appropriate working group, we are able to evaluate the plan in a comprehensive
manner. The formation of the Education group represents our very strong desire to
have an “educational” presence throughout the park, to the benefit of both the
park and its users. We also address
maintenance, park operations, and staffing, since these are all essential
underlying elements necessary for successful implementation of improvements to Oak Mountain State
Park.
Supported Projects from the Master Plan
Shown below are projects supported by FOM. Some projects we support in a form similar to
that described in the Master Plan, but with some modification. Others, we
support, but recommend substantial variance from the Master Plan
recommendations. Details of our
recommendations are shown in later sections of this document. We have omitted estimated costs for these
areas of improvement. Per our earlier
discussions with DCNR, we look forward to collaborating to develop cost
estimates and budgets for the improvements we will endorse. These will be incorporated into our next
document.
(* Note that Items 15 and 16 below are pending additional
review by FOM prior to a final recommendation)
|
Master
Plan Ranking
|
Project
|
|
1
|
Forest
Management
|
|
2
|
Infrastructure
Improvements
|
|
3
|
Trail System Improvements
|
|
4
|
Scenic Touring Trail – Peavine Falls
Segment
|
|
5
|
North Entry Arrival Improvements
|
|
6
|
West Entry Arrival Improvements
|
|
7
|
Golf Course Enhancement
|
|
9
|
Double Oak Lake Day
Use Area
|
|
10
|
Double Oak Lake
Swimming and Marina Area
|
|
12
|
CCC Group Camps 1 & 2 Restoration
|
|
14
|
Fishing Center Day
Use Area
|
|
15 *
|
Beaver Lake Day Use Area
|
|
16 *
|
New Tranquility Lake Scenic Cabins
|
|
17
|
North Campground Renovation and Outdoor
Center
|
|
18
|
Demonstration Farm and Equestrian Campground
|
|
19
|
CCC Group Camps 3 & 4
|
Opposed Projects from the Master Plan
Listed below are projects FOM completely opposes. Although several of these projects have been
“officially” removed from the Master Plan (e.g. Red Trail paving and Scenic
Driving Loop), we request that
the DCNR issue a document which “officially” removes them from consideration
and directs CDG Engineers to remove them completely from subsequent (and final)
versions of the Master Plan.
|
Master
Plan Ranking
|
Project
|
|
8
|
Golf Course Expansion
|
|
11
|
Scenic Touring Trail - Red
Road and Tranquility Lake Segment
|
|
13
|
New West Campground and Park Office
|
|
20
|
New Park Lodge/Conference Center
|
|
21
|
Mountain Top Scenic Cabins
|
|
22
|
Top of the Mountain Center
|
Executive Summary of
Committee Recommendations
Following is an executive summary from each of the FOM committees
or Working Groups. Detailed information
is in the section immediately following.
Golf
1)
Improve Drainage System for entire course and
driving range
2)
Replace turf on greens and tee boxes
3)
Evaluate turf replacement or replenishment
elsewhere as needed
4)
Improve irrigation system
5)
Renovate Golf Clubhouse and Comfort Stations
6)
Repave Parking lot
Trail and Day Use
1)
Fishing Center Day
Use – Lunker and Beaver lake
a.
Reconstruct and updates comfort area to ADA
standards
b.
Install trash container system
c.
Construct 3 piers on north side of lake
d.
Incorporate interpretive educational elements
throughout
e.
Rebuild and possibly enlarge picnic pavilion
f.
Resurface parking lot
g.
Construct low-tech bridge over spillway
2)
North Trail Head
a)
Resurface parking lot
b)
Increase parking by paving dirt area adjacent
to parking lot
c)
Connect these two parking areas via a wooden
bridge to minimize forest impact
d)
Construct ADA
compliant comfort station 30 yards north of trailhead
3)
BMX Area
a)
Construct new ADA
compliant comfort station
b)
Resurface existing gravel parking lot, gravel
adjacent open area for additional parking
