MONTGOMERY — Charlie Smith Park in Bridgeport will undergo a significant renovation thanks to a $499,894 grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The grant will fund the first phase of the park’s revitalization, transforming the once vibrant, but now vacant park into a key recreational space for the city. Charlie Smith Park is one of three parks in Bridgeport but has not been used for several years.
City officials say the revived park will also play a major role in North Alabama’s Singing River Trail, a 200-plus mile greenway that extends across seven counties, including Jackson County. The Singing River Trail, projected to increase tourism as well as enhance health and wellness, will begin or end at Bridgeport.
“This grant will breathe new life into the once vibrant Charlie Smith Park and provide another outdoor venue for the residents in the city of Bridgeport,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in announcing the grant. “I am pleased to announce this funding, and I am delighted for the opportunities this park will provide for recreation.”
The first phase of the park renovation will include walking trails, a pavilion, playground, splash pad and other features. In phase two, the city plans to install basketball courts and a play area within a wooded part of the park.
Ivey notified Bridgeport Mayor David Hughes that the grant had been approved. Under the LWCF program, recipients are required to equally match the amount of the award with cash or in-kind commitments.
LWCF, a program of the U.S. Department of the Interior, was established by Congress in 1965 to assist states with the development and preservation of outdoor recreational facilities. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs manages the program in Alabama.
“Well maintained and utilized parks and playgrounds reflect the vitality of a community. They also illustrate how much a community values its residents, including children and senior citizens,” ADECA Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in commending local leaders for securing this grant and making Bridgeport a better place.”
