Parks for Everyone: Celebrating Alabama’s Green Spaces

Alabama’s state parks are more than places to hike, fish, or enjoy a scenic sunset, they’re spaces that support healthier communities, preserve natural resources, and create lasting memories for visitors of all ages. As Parks and Recreation Month gets underway, this conversation explores how parks have evolved to better serve the public, from expanded accessible playgrounds and adaptive outdoor equipment to educational programs that promote conservation and stewardship.

The discussion also highlights the economic impact of parks through tourism and community events, the growing demand for outdoor recreation, and the role parks continue to play in bringing people together. Whether it’s gathering for a family reunion, exploring a waterfall, or unplugging from daily life on a wooded trail, Alabama’s parks offer experiences that connect people with nature and with one another.

In this episode of Tennessee Valley Mornings, host R.L. Terry speaks with Bridgette Bennett, Northwest District Superintendent for Alabama State Parks, about the many ways Alabama’s parks enrich communities and why there’s never been a better time to explore the state’s green spaces.