Kayak Eufaula prepared to paddle prosperity to this Alabama community

Kayak Eufaula officially kicked off Monday, using small boats and paddles as a vehicle for economic growth.

Kayak Eufaula is operated by the City of Eufaula Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with Lakepoint State Park and with the support of Innovate Alabama, Alabama Power and Alabama State Parks.

“The best part about this project is the partnerships that have been formed to make this happen,” Eufaula Mayor Jack Tibbs said. “With all these partners, the sky is the limit. I look forward to the possible new opportunities of the future.”

Innovate Alabama provided the primary funding through a $650,000 grant. From the outset, Innovate Alabama has seen the importance of outdoor recreation when it comes to providing the quality of life and opportunities necessary to recruiting entrepreneurs and workers in the innovation economy.

“This is incredible to see something that was on paper in our foundational report come to life in a community like Eufaula. It’s really exciting to be able to be a part of that and support a community that’s this invested in outdoor recreation and quality of life,” said T.C. McLemore, Outdoor Recreation Program director for Innovate Alabama. “That’s something that the city of Eufaula can offer up as a value proposition in recruiting businesses and in recruiting innovators and tech talent to their community – that you can have a low cost of living, you can have access to resources, you can have the right talent to support your business’ growth and you can have an exceptional quality of life rooted in Alabama’s outdoors.”

Kayakers get to experience Lake Eufaula and its rivers, streams and tributaries from a different perspective. Meant for locals or visitors, Kayak Eufaula has guided tours, rentals and educational programs and activities for all skill levels.

“This is another great way to showcase what this area has to offer,” said Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.

Alabama Power is also collaborating with the City of Eufaula Parks and Recreation to focus on environmental stewardship and community engagement, which align with the company’s value and commitment to protecting the natural resources of the state and developing community spaces for Alabamians to enjoy.

“This is going to be a great initiative for Eufaula,” said Mallory Herring, community development specialist for the Southeast Division of Alabama Power. “It really brings a lot of value to this community.”

Rick Thorne, programs coordinator from the City of Eufaula Parks and Recreation Department, said the impact will be far-reaching.

“We’re thrilled to introduce this program, which provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to engage with nature, encourage outdoor recreation and stimulate local tourism,” he said. “We truly appreciate the support and collaboration of Innovate Alabama, Lakepoint State Park and Alabama Power in making this initiative possible.”

McLemore said Kayak Eufaula will serve as a model for what other communities can do to leverage their natural resources.

“That’s the really cool thing about outdoor recreation. You are really charged to take advantage of what’s in your backyard, of what you’re naturally endowed with,” he said. “That’s what Eufaula has done in taking advantage of the lake and the waterways around their community – and the human capital, the excitement of their people here in the community and their capacity to bring something like this to life.”

While not every community has a Lake Eufaula, McLemore said the natural beauty and resources that exist throughout the state offer a wealth of opportunities.

“I hope that we see more communities invest in the natural assets that are in their backyard and take advantage of that,” he said. “Of course, we want to see economic impact from projects like this, but we really want to see an enhanced quality of life. We want people who live in the community to integrate activities like kayaking, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking into everyday life.”

Kayak Eufaula isn’t just planning to offer guided tours and rentals. Other enhancements in the works are fishing kayaks, accessibility for those with disabilities and shoreline lunches, where kayak tours are broken into two parts with a stop for a meal along the way.

Lakepoint State Park on the banks of Lake Eufaula will serve as the primary location for Kayak Eufaula. Improvements are being made to the park’s welcome center to house Kayak Eufaula and some supporting functions.

“We’re excited to welcome Kayak Eufaula to Lakepoint State Park,” said Alabama State Parks Director Matthew Capps. “The park is the perfect home for this kind of adventure. Guests can come for the kayaking and stay for our newly renovated lodge rooms and so much more. The Kayak Eufaula experience at Lakepoint State Park opens up an exciting new way for people to enjoy Eufaula and the great outdoors.”

For more information about Kayak Eufaula, visit www.kayakeufaula.com.