A new state-of-the-art, accessible playground will be built at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, adding a new amenity to one of the Tennessee Valley’s most popular parks.
The playground will be built due to contributions of $100,000 from the Daniel Foundation and $50,000 from the Thompson Foundation, and the Alabama State Parks Foundation is also contributing $50,000 from its unrestricted funds.
“We can’t thank the Alabama Parks Foundation, the Thompson Foundation, and the Daniel Foundation enough for their generosity and passion for this project at Joe Wheeler State Park,” State Parks Director Matthew Capps said. “We are committed to helping every visitor to one of our state parks enjoy a first-class experience, and it’s gratifying to know that we have partners who are willing to step forward and help us accomplish that goal.”
The playground project carries a total price tag of nearly $450,000, and the Foundation is continuing its fund-raising efforts to transform the playground project from dream into reality.
“We are actively seeking donations from individual and corporate donors, and we’d love to find additional corporate partners from the Shoals to be part of this project,” said Alex McCrary, president of the Foundation’s board of directors.
Donations to the Foundation can be made online at https://asparksfoundation.org/individual-donations/.
The State Parks System is currently making renovations and upgrades to parks throughout the state, thanks to voters’ overwhelming approval of an $80 million bond issue for state parks in 2022.
A number of major projects are under construction and expected to be finished in 2026, including the addition of a new lodge at Cheaha State Park, the total renovation of Lake Lurleen State Park near Tuscaloosa, and a significant campground expansion at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, which was named one of the nation’s best RV parks in the country earlier this year.
While the bond funding helps address a long list of deferred maintenance and fund critical enhancement projects around the state, the Foundation said it remains committed to raising funds for other targeted projects like the new playground at Joe Wheeler State Park.
The Foundation has been involved in a number of other enhancement projects in recent years, including:
- Working with a fraternity from the University of South Alabama to purchase a track chair for Gulf State Park
- Partnering with Buffalo Rock to purchase patio furniture for Wind Creek State Park and Lakepoint State Park
- Securing a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham to install a new playground at Rickwood Caverns State Park
“The Foundation can help fill the gaps and provide a margin of excellence to make our State Parks better than they have ever been,” McCrary said. “We always say that every gift makes a difference, and the generous funding provided by the Thompson Foundation and the Daniel Foundation are perfect examples.”
New, accessible playgrounds have been recently added at Chewacla State Park in Auburn and Rickwood Caverns State Park in Warrior, projects that replaced outdated equipment and improved accessibility for visitors with physical challenges. Officials also unveiled a new playground in the renovated campground at Oak Mountain State Park in 2024.
The new playground at Rickwood Caverns replaced one of the oldest ones in the State Parks System.
“Playgrounds have always been among the most used facilities in our State Parks,” Capps said, “and that’s why we replaced the one at Rickwood Caverns and we’re committed to building a new one at Joe Wheeler State Park. We always say we want our State Parks to be a place where people can stay, play and explore. Whether a family is staying at Joe Wheeler’s waterfront lodge for a week or that same family visits the park for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon, we understand how much a new playground will be appreciated and enjoyed by kids of all ages. That’s something to celebrate.”
Alabama’s State Parks attract millions of visitors every year, and Joe Wheeler State Park welcomed more than 236,000 people in fiscal year 2023-24, the most recent year that figures are available.
Online reservations at Joe Wheeler and all State Parks can be made at Alapark.com through the “Plan Your Alabama State Parks Adventure Online” portal, and guests are reminded to make reservations in advance to secure preferred dates.
