Sportsman Lake Mountain Bike Trail now open

Sportsman Lake Mountain Bike Trail now open
The Cullman County Commission, County Parks and Recreation, and other local and state officials gathered at Sportsman Lake Park earlier this year to officially open the park's new mountain bike trail. Officially designated an unpaved multi-use trail open to both mountain bikers, hikers and other pedestrian traffic, the trail is actually a five-mile system of three trails, which range in difficulty from easy to advanced. "It's a major asset to Sportsman Lake and to our county park system," said park and recreation Director Robbie Camp, who said the trail has already seen considerable use. "We've needed something like this for a long time. There are many mountain bikers and hikers in our local communities, and this will not only provide them with an outlet for their interests, but it will also be a draw for enthusiasts from outside Cullman County." Funding for the trail came from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs’ Recreational Trail Grants Program, directed by Jon Strickland, and a grant from Alabama Mountain Rivers & Valley’s Resource Conservation and Development Council, coordinated by Mike Roden of Decatur office. The mountain bike/multi-use trail is the second trail built at Sportsman Lake Park with ADECA's RTP funds; the first is an asphalt recreational trail for non-motorized use. Work began on the paved trail in September of 2003 and is nearly complete. The grants and coordination of the project were handled by Sammie Danford, Director of Cullman County Economic Development. "Like so many of our local projects, this trail couldn't have become a reality without the help of a lot of key people," Danford said. "The support of the County Commission and our state delegation ... ADECA and RC&D were a major part of the success. Bill St. John and Billy Faulk of the County ID Board were involved from the very beginning and helped initiate the project. It was a true team effort." The trail was constructed by Deno Contos, Appalachian Landscape Management of Hoschton, Ga., using techniques that promote a stable trail and minimize soil erosion. Engineering and design work was donated by Bill St. John and Todd Hardman of St. John & Associates of Cullman. Kiosks marking the trailheads for the bike trail, the paved walking trail and the park entrance were constructed by timberframe artisans Miles Eddins and Emanuel Bennetolo of Tuscaloosa. They were completely hand-made with no power tools, using mortice and tenon joints, and are held together only with wooden pegs. The design for these structures was based on a well-house design used in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps in National Parks. For more information about the trails at Sportsman Lake, contact Cullman County Park and Recreation at 256-734-3369 or visit them on the web at www.cullmancountyparks.com.	Local and state officials met earlier this year to officially cut the ribbon on the Sportsman Lake Mountain Bike Trail. (Click on picture to view larger version)
(Click above to enlarge trail map in new window)

The Cullman County Commission, County Parks and Recreation, and other local and state officials gathered at Sportsman Lake Park earlier this year to officially open the park's new mountain bike trail.

Officially designated an unpaved multi-use trail open to both mountain bikers, hikers and other pedestrian traffic, the trail is actually a five-mile system of three trails, which range in difficulty from easy to advanced.

"It's a major asset to Sportsman Lake and to our county park system," said park and recreation Director Robbie Camp, who said the trail has already seen considerable use.

"We've needed something like this for a long time. There are many mountain bikers and hikers in our local communities, and this will not only provide them with an outlet for their interests, but it will also be a draw for enthusiasts from outside Cullman County."

Funding for the trail came from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs’ Recreational Trail Grants Program, directed by Jon Strickland, and a grant from Alabama Mountain Rivers & Valley’s Resource Conservation and Development Council, coordinated by Mike Roden of Decatur office.

The mountain bike/multi-use trail is the second trail built at Sportsman Lake Park with ADECA's RTP funds; the first is an asphalt recreational trail for non-motorized use. Work began on the paved trail in September of 2003 and is nearly complete.

The grants and coordination of the project were handled by Sammie Danford, Director of Cullman County Economic Development.

"Like so many of our local projects, this trail couldn't have become a reality without the help of a lot of key people," Danford said. "The support of the County Commission and our state delegation ... ADECA and RC&D were a major part of the success. Bill St. John and Billy Faulk of the County ID Board were involved from the very beginning and helped initiate the project. It was a true team effort."

The trail was constructed by Deno Contos, Appalachian Landscape Management of Hoschton, Ga., using techniques that promote a stable trail and minimize soil erosion.

Engineering and design work was donated by Bill St. John and Todd Hardman of St. John & Associates of Cullman.

Kiosks marking the trailheads for the bike trail, the paved walking trail and the park entrance were constructed by timberframe artisans Miles Eddins and Emanuel Bennetolo of Tuscaloosa. They were completely hand-made with no power tools, using mortice and tenon joints, and are held together only with wooden pegs. The design for these structures was based on a well-house design used in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps in National Parks.

For more information about the trails at Sportsman Lake, contact Cullman County Park and Recreation at 256-734-3369 or visit them on the web at www.cullmancountyparks.com.