MONTGOMERY— Ross Harrison and his family have enjoyed riding the trails of Stony Lonesome OHV Park in Cullman County. But Harrison expressed a concern that park officials said was common among visitors: a lack of safety lighting in the parking lot after dark. In an e-mail to the park, he said the lighting would enable extended park hours in the evening and “…bring peace of mind for the ability to see what was around at night.”
Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded a $42,584 grant to help the Cullman County Commission address that need. The project will install eight light poles in the park’s parking area, where there is currently no lighting. Park officials say the lighting will increase safety for riders loading and unloading their vehicles at night and camping overnight, enable the park to stay open longer and host more races and other riding events.
“Stony Lonesome is an example how an outdoor recreational trail can become a regional attraction that brings new events and visitors to an area,” Bentley said. “I am pleased to assist Cullman County officials with this upgrade to increase safety and attract even more events to the park.”
Open year-round, the 1,500-acre park features trails for all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, equestrians and hikers.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program. ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, workforce development, water resource management and recreation development.
Bentley notified Kenneth Walker, chairman of the County Commission, that the grant had been approved.
