What is the Alabama State Parks Foundation?
The Alabama State Parks Foundation is an IRS 501(c3) community of people who love our State’s parks. A philanthropic partner of the Parks Administration, the Foundation seeks gifts that will support and enhance park programming, parks facilities, and parks experiences.
Members of the Foundation are people dedicated to building and sustaining a great, statewide park system.
The Foundation has a 13 member board of directors comprised of community leaders from all sections of the state.
When was The Foundation created?
In January 2018, a group of people from throughout Alabama formed the Alabama State Parks Foundation. The Foundation will be a community of people dedicated to the Parks
What are the Benefits of The Foundation?
The Alabama State Parks Foundation will host a community of people who love the parks.
The Foundation will highlight the marvelous features of the parks and their services to Alabama’s citizens.
The Foundation will raise funds to support park programs, parks facilities, and park experiences.
Do I have to donate to become a Foundation member ?
To celebrate the birth of the Alabama State Parks Foundation, you can join others in becoming a “First Friend and Founding Member”. Of course, we hope that our First Friends make a financial contribution to the Foundation, but if for whatever reason you cannot give money at this time, you may become a First Friend by pledging your time and talent. Depending upon where you live, you can volunteer at a park nearest you.
What is First Friends?
First Friends understand the needs of our parks for strong recreational programs, modern facilities, and great staff. By their example of financial support for the parks, our First Friends will spread the news about Alabama’s marvelous parks.
First Friends will be the foot soldiers of our great park movement ---“Parks for People and People for Parks.”
Why do the Alabama State Parks need a Foundation?
With the passage of Amendment 2 in November 2018, the parks are finally able to start work on long overdue improvement projects. They are now moving forward on a backlog of maintenance projects that developed during the years that the Alabama Legislature use funds generated by the parks for its own use. The Foundation will be able to directly supply 100% of funds to a needed project without the need for added state administrative cost.
Who is the president of the Alabama State Parks Foundation?
Dan L. Hendricks
President’s Message
The Foundation is a community of people who love Alabama’s marvelous parks. Our parks dot the landscape of Alabama Beautiful. From the seashores of the Gulf to the verdant hills of Appalachia, the parks welcome people to their diverse natural settings. For generations, families have gathered for reunions, hikers tramped our enchanted woodlands, fishermen relaxed on glistening lakes, and people of all ages enjoyed healthy and recreational experiences in our lovely parks.
Who is the Alabama State Parks Director?
Greg Lein
Director’s Message
There are 22 State Parks, which includes 48,000 acres and the first one was established in 1930. The total budget for the parks is $40 million.
Over the last 20 years, the Alabama State Park system has hosted a consistent visitation rate of 4 to 5 million customer occurrences each year, demonstrating that people love their parks. This same park system has consistently been recognized as being one of the most efficient in the nation, with 80 to 90 percent of the annual funding coming from customer fees, Not Taxes. These achievements did not happen by accident. They are the result of 75 years of dedicated effort on the part of our elected officials, park employees, local partners and of course, the loving patronage of our park customers.
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