Parks and Recreation

Folks in Chilton County know how to appreciate the great outdoors. Whether it is a sporting event, a relaxing weekend away or an evening stroll, the county has a variety of options for both indoor and outdoor recreation.

There are a variety of parks throughout the county just waiting for families to enjoy all they have to offer.

In Clanton, there is Goose Pond Park located on Highway 31 North with picnic tables, a pavilion, walking track also opportunities to find “Kindness Rocks.”

There is also City Park located on Highway 145 with a walking trail, pavilion, playground, baseball fields, tennis courts, picnic tables and disk golf

Higgins Ferry Park offers fishing, camping, swimming and a full-service electrical hook-up for RVs along with places for primitive tent-camping. The park also routinely hosts fishing tournaments.

The Higgins Ferry boat launch is open to the public, and can be accessed by taking the Lake Mitchell exit off I-65, and taking County Road 28 until it dead-ends at Higgins Ferry Park.

Jemison has both Minooka Park and Jemison City Park, which is complete with tennis courts, a walking trail, pavilion, and baseball and softball fields. The city park is located at 396 Brenda Lane.

Minooka Park, located between Jemison and Calera in North Chilton County on U.S. Highway 31, offers a 25-mile trail system, used for ATV and dirt bike riding, walking, hiking and horseback riding. In addition, the park also has trails that offer some views of some of Central Alabama’s most breathtaking scenery.

In Thorsby, Richard Wood Park is near the intersection of Alabama Avenue and Franklin Street.

Individuals can enjoy a walking track, playground, exercise equipment, pavilion, picnic area, grills, and Movies in the Park each Friday at dusk during the month of June each year.

Maplesville has both Double Fields Park at 6741 Shanks Drive and Single Ball Field at 301 Shanks Drive. Double Fields Park offers a walking trail as part of the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail, baseball fields and a pavilion and Single Ball Field offers a playground, baseball field and pavilion. https://alabamabirdingtrails.com/trails/piedmont-plateau/

Confederate Memorial Park near Verbena offers a family-friendly option that covers both a historical aspect and visually pleasing site. Not only is it a museum, research facility, showcase of authentic historical structures, and a display of ruins and two cemeteries with more than 300 Confederate soldiers, it is a place for people of all ages to visit and peruse. The 102-acre park hosts both local guests and tourists, and has the only museum in Alabama that is strictly devoted to the Civil War.

One of the more picturesque places in the county is Lake Mitchell, a component of the Coosa River that lies 10 miles east of Clanton. The 5,850-acre lake averages 29 feet in depth and includes 147 miles of shoreline. Alabama Power constructed Lay Dam in 1923 to provide flood control and hydroelectricity to central Alabama. Since then, Lake Mitchell has become a source of recreation with attractions such as boating, swimming, and fishing.

The lake also supports high densities of sport fish, such as largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, walleye, striped bass, hybrid, and white bass.

There is also a Marina restaurant, which offers food seasonally, specializing in crawfish, gumbo and barbecue.

Those looking for an indoor recreational option, can find it in local gyms, which off a variety of fitness classes, sporting activities and community programs.

Clanton Country Club Golf Course

For those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Clanton Country Club offers a 9-hole golf course in Clanton. Located just a few miles north on Highway 31 from the Interstate 65 Exit 205, the member owned and member operated club is a convenient stop to local and visiting players.

The club is open every day, and has a 23-acre driving range. There is a pro-shop that offers golfing accessories and a pool and pavilion are also available for outdoor relaxing. There is also a clubhouse and a banquet room.

For more information, visit clantoncountryclub.com or by calling (205) 755-0145.