FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2010

(MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA)—House Bill 376 by Representative Cam Ward (R-Alabaster), establishing the Alabama Trails Commission, passed the House of Representatives today and will go to the Senate for its consideration. The bill grew out of a recommendation by the Alabama Recreational Trails Advisory Board, and Senator Wendell Mitchell (D-Luverne) and Rep. Cam Ward sponsored companion bills in the Senate and House.

HB 376 provides that the Alabama Trails Commission will be a division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and will coordinate local needs, goals and leadership in trail design, operation, build-up and maintenance for hiking, biking, running horseback riding, motorized off-highway vehicles and water sport.

“There’s no greater place to be than outdoors in Alabama, and Senator Mitchell and I wanted to capitalize on that fact,” Rep. Ward said.  “This will be a great opportunity to promote the many recreational venues we have in Alabama, offering Alabama families and tourists a healthy, safe way to have fun while enjoying the beauty of Alabama,” he went on to say.  Ward said he believes, “Eco-tourism has the potential to economically jump start many rural areas of Alabama.”

Under the legislation, a twelve-member Alabama Trails Commission will be established with members coming from the Alabama Departments of Transportation, Conservation and Natural Resources, Tourism, and Economic and Community Affairs. Other board members will be comprised of trail users, local government officials and the business community. A tax deductible, non-profit foundation will be established to raise funds to advance the Trail Commission.  Rep. Ward said, “Areas such as Oak Mountain State Park will really benefit in the long term because this legislation would offer great state assistance in maintenance and development of existing hiking trails at the park.”

Cam Ward was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002 to represent District 49, which includes parts of Bibb and Shelby Counties. Mr. Ward, his wife Julie and daughter Riley are residents of Alabaster.