By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA – The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development and the city of Helena have announced the dedication of the Helena Cahaba Blueway access site located along Buck Creek at Helena Amphitheater Park on Tuesday, April 16 at 10 a.m.

Buck Creek, which flows through the Helena Amphitheater Park in Old Town Helena, is one of 15 Cahaba River accesses that are officially being designated as Cahaba Blueway access sites during the month of April.

Flowing from the city of Trussville, just northeast of Birmingham, to Old Cahawba Archaeological Park west of Selma, the Cahaba River connects 10 municipalities and six counties along its 200-mile course. It is among the most biologically diverse and scenic rivers in North America and is an outstanding natural asset that has significant potential to enhance quality of life in nearby communities and to generate economic development through recreational and nature-based tourism.

The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development and its partners have developed the Cahaba Blueway program to enhance public awareness of the river as a recreational destination, to make available the information needed for safe navigation on the river, and to facilitate the development of access infrastructure to make getting on and off the water with a canoe or kayak safer and easier.

Program partners have created a website at Cahabablueway.org where visitors can get all of the information they need to plan a paddling trip on the river.

The site features an interactive map with information about each access point and river section, important paddling and river safety tips, and links to local paddling outfitters and retailers as well as local hospitality and tourism information resources. The site also features guideline documents that communities are invited to use as they develop safe, environmentally sustainable and durable accesses along the river.

The city of Helena is proud to partner with the Cahaba Blueway program and to have Helena Amphitheater Park be among the first locations to be dedicated as a Cahaba Blueway access site.

The public is invited to attend the site dedication at Helena Amphitheater Park on Tuesday, April 16 at 10 a.m.