The goal of this project – an initiative of the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UACED) - was to spur economic development by linking Haleyville to outdoor recreation opportunities in the Bankhead National Forest (BNF) while drawing forest visitors back into the town center.

Uniquely situated near the BNF’s northwest access points, Haleyville (population 4,285) is ideally positioned to reap economic benefit from its proximity to a robust network of hiking, biking, paddling, and other outdoor recreation activities. Notably, Haleyville is the nearest municipality to many significant trailheads in the Sipsey Wilderness. The second largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River, Sipsey is estimated to draw tens of thousands of visitors each year from around the region and the country.

This project aims to establish Haleyville as a true gateway to the BNF by identifying signage, infrastructure, and wayfinding material that will make the town an attractive launching (and landing) pad for those visitors. A comprehensive base map of Bankhead’s outdoor recreation assets and user-specific maps were developed to highlight key routes and points of interest. These materials informed the design of a kiosk prominently placed in Haleyville’s city center, which provides information about the forest, the town, and local amenities. Furthermore, the project identified and inventoried necessary locations and content for proposed road signage to solidify the Haleyville-Bankhead link for motorists.

To ensure the project aligned with community goals as well as conservation & land management priorities, Stick facilitated conversation and collaboration between a range of stakeholders, including UACED, Haleyville civic leaders, and local land stewards from the U.S. Forest Service.

Haleyville is not alone in underleveraging its opportunities for economic development via outdoor recreation. A comprehensive 2020 Hoover Institute report commissioned by Governor Kay Ivey’s Alabama Innovation Council concluded that overlooked natural assets and an underdeveloped outdoor recreation industry are primary impediments to economic development statewide.

In tandem with other concurrent UACED initiatives, this project serves larger UACED objectives by piloting a replicable “gateway” framework of reciprocal connection between human communities and their natural resources. UACED hopes to deploy this model to help rural communities throughout the state maximize the economic potential of their proximity to outdoor recreation opportunities.