Lincoln officials hope to see plans for a regional park move forward soon.

“We wrote letters to the county and to the city of Talladega asking them to join us in the development and creation of a regional park on the Brecon Annex land,” Mayor Lew Watson said. “We have never had a problem working with the county and other cities, because we feel this is a countywide project.”

The Brecon Annex land, also known as the Coosa River Valley Annex property in Brecon, was originally deeded to the Talladega County Commission. The only requirement for developing the property is that it be used for a public park. The County Commission had originally planned to give the property to the County Board of Education for an outdoor classroom and timber revenue, however, when that plan was not approved, the commission did not come up with another plan.

The federal government requested proposals for use of the property from other entities and received three: from the city of Lincoln, the city of Talladega, and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Lincoln’s proposal was approved, but the commission refused to deed the property to the city.

A committee was appointed by the state Legislature to govern the park property; however, the park development must follow the approved elements submitted in Lincoln’s proposal.

“At this time I would like for our plan for the Brecon Park to proceed,” Watson’s May 27 letter stated. “I extend to you an invitation to join with us in the development of the park, by creating a recreational park that will have broad appeal to the entire region, creating jobs and a financial benefit to our cities and county. We can do this by creating a park authority under the provisions of Alabama Law Section 11-47.”

Watson said a park authority could adopt Lincoln’s plan and thereby obtain U.S. Department of the Interior approval for ownership of the park.

“We are disappointed the county did not elect to participate, but we understand their decision,” he said. “The county may elect to participate at a future date.”

The County Commission recently approved a resolution that stated, “The Talladega County Commission hereby supports the efforts of the cities of Talladega and Lincoln and the Coosa Valley Recreation Board to become a Public Park Authority under the provisions of the Code of Alabama Title 11 Chapter 47 and to obtain approval from the United States Department of the Interior for the commission to deed the property known as the Coosa River Annex property to the new Public Park Authority.”

Watson said the county’s decision opens the door for the park authority to proceed, if the city of Talladega elects to participate.

“We hope Talladega will act on this in the immediate future,” he said. “We felt it was time and with the action by the county it opens the door now for Talladega and Lincoln to come together and make this a reality.”

Watson said the regional park will create jobs and economic growth.

“We want to make this happen,” he said. “We think the public wants to see this happen. There has been confusion and misconceptions in the past, but I think that all of that is behind us now.”

Watson said Talladega County resident Danny Hubbard proposed the park idea to the county several years ago, and was instrumental in promoting the idea of the park project.

“We want to thank him for his input and assistance,” he said.