The Friends of Blue Springs State Park was established in 2009 as a citizen’s support group for Blue Springs State Park in Blue Springs, Alabama. The founders of the group formed it to protect, preserve, and support the Park.
The Park’s natural cold springs is a place where citizens from across the state, especially those in the southeastern region in which it is located, have come to enjoy outdoor fun and recreation since before the 20th century
The Friends do not want to see this natural resource and unique place of recreation jeopardized because of economic difficulties. To that end, it has been and is the Friends’ desire to develop greater community support and additional resources for the Park through activities such as organizing volunteer work days to help maintain the Park, holding special community events to promote the Park, and carrying out fundraising activities to generate funds to help improve the Park.
Since its creation, the Friends have worked toward many of these goals. The group has coordinated with local organizations, such as the area Boy Scout Troops, and other citizen volunteers to help clean up and maintain overgrown areas of the Park, especially in its campground area. The group has also held special events within the Park, allowing citizens from the surrounding communities to enjoy the Park in ways they never have before and encouraging them to increase their regular patronage.
At these special events and on other occasions, the Friends have taken acted in order to raise funds to go toward Park improvements. In 2014, the group obtained official 501(c)(3) status in order to increase opportunities for fundraising to help the park.
With the funds raised so far, they have been able to help with the following projects and more:
Install Playground System w/Sandbox
Collaborated with the State to keep Park open winter of 2015
Purchase new Paddleboats
Repair volleyball court several times after flood damage
Supplied the wood to replace fencing and for bridges on the walking trail
Bought several new grills and garbage cans
Bought several pieces of equipment for park maintenance workers to use (i.e. leaf blower, hedge trimmer, pressure washer, and woodcutter.
Above all, it is the Friends’ desire to use their non-profit status in a way that will forever impact Blue Springs State Park and the citizens of its surrounding communities.
Who are the Friends
The Friends group has consisted of several board members through the years. Each contributed to make the organization what it has become today. The current board members are:
Amy Carswell of Troy Amanda Fenn of Blue Springs Triston Hanners of Blue Springs Thomas (TJ) Johnson of Skipperville Gloria Peters of Blue Springs Kira Tharpe of Ozark Tiffany Tharpe of Blue Springs Chuck Whitcomb of Ozark
About Friends of the Park
The Friends of Blue Springs State Park was established in 2009 as a citizen’s support group for Blue Springs State Park in Blue Springs, Alabama. The founders of the group formed it to protect, preserve, and support the Park.
The Park’s natural cold springs is a place where citizens from across the state, especially those in the southeastern region in which it is located, have come to enjoy outdoor fun and recreation since before the 20th century
The Friends do not want to see this natural resource and unique place of recreation jeopardized because of economic difficulties. To that end, it has been and is the Friends’ desire to develop greater community support and additional resources for the Park through activities such as organizing volunteer work days to help maintain the Park, holding special community events to promote the Park, and carrying out fundraising activities to generate funds to help improve the Park.
Since its creation, the Friends have worked toward many of these goals. The group has coordinated with local organizations, such as the area Boy Scout Troops, and other citizen volunteers to help clean up and maintain overgrown areas of the Park, especially in its campground area. The group has also held special events within the Park, allowing citizens from the surrounding communities to enjoy the Park in ways they never have before and encouraging them to increase their regular patronage.
At these special events and on other occasions, the Friends have taken acted in order to raise funds to go toward Park improvements. In 2014, the group obtained official 501(c)(3) status in order to increase opportunities for fundraising to help the park.
With the funds raised so far, they have been able to help with the following projects and more:
Above all, it is the Friends’ desire to use their non-profit status in a way that will forever impact Blue Springs State Park and the citizens of its surrounding communities.
Who are the Friends
The Friends group has consisted of several board members through the years. Each contributed to make the organization what it has become today. The current board members are:
Amy Carswell of Troy
Amanda Fenn of Blue Springs
Triston Hanners of Blue Springs
Thomas (TJ) Johnson of Skipperville
Gloria Peters of Blue Springs
Kira Tharpe of Ozark
Tiffany Tharpe of Blue Springs
Chuck Whitcomb of Ozark
Learn about History of the Park here
Learn how you can Help the Friends Help the Park here