TVA clarifies options for attraction at Veterans Park

FLORENCE -- The Tennessee Valley Authority recently clarified options for developing an attraction at TVA-owned Veterans Park as part of the tourism project involving local governments and the Retirement Systems of Alabama.

TVA's change in land management policy, adopted Nov. 30, allows only recreational uses on the land and effectively ended a proposal for a Bass Pro Shop-anchored commercial development in the park.

Now, an attraction at the park can include "commercial recreation."

This option, which is to make sure that a bond obtained to partner with the RSA in the project is repaid, was addressed in a letter dated March 1 from Buff Crosby, senior manager of TVA's environmental stewardship and policy, to Rex Burleson, chairman of the Public Park Authority of the Shoals.

"We didn't know until we got the letter really what would fit and not fit in there under this new land-use policy that they issued," said Mayor Bobby Irons.

"This would open up the possibilities of an independent investor coming in and investing money (at Veterans Park) instead of the city having to invest money," Irons said.

Possible commercial recreation attractions could include a touring riverboat, water theme park, military vessel and a restaurant associated with water-based attractions.

"If a developer is involved in (Veterans Park), it could be managed by the developer; if RSA's involved in it, takes ownership of it, it could be managed by RSA," Irons said.

The original intent was to build a tourist attraction at Veterans Park and the clarification may bring more possible developers.

"It doesn't resolve anything immediately for us," said Irons. "It might open the door a little bit for additional proposals that we might get or that might be acceptable."

Any development in Veterans Park must be signed off by the city, RSA, the park authority and TVA.

"If (any potential attraction) is in a gray area, we will contact them before we will ever pursue the project," said PPAS chairman Rex Burleson. "We want to get it clarified with TVA before we get too far into it."

The TVA-owned land is currently under a city easement and is managed by Florence.

RSA Executive Director David Bronner said RSA is looking for an attraction that brings in not only local residents, but also tourists from 100 or more miles away.

"You're trying to get the tourist angle in there, but you have to be realistic about the location of it," Bronner said.

The search for an attraction at the park continued last week when an undisclosed developer and several officials met privately about a possible project.

Irons and Burleson, who attended the meeting, declined to name the developer or the nature of the project because the company requested anonymity and because of the preliminary nature of the inquiry.

"They (the developer) have a right to their privacy at this point until we get something a little more firm from them," Irons said.

One source familiar with the meeting but who did not attend said the inquiry was about a water theme park.

Irons said the developer planned to complete a feasibility study within the next 30 to 60 days.

"We've had a bunch of ideas, but none of them worked out," Bronner said.

If the proposal turns out to be viable under TVA rules, RSA plans to continue taking the development to the next step, Bronner said.

"We're not going to push the panic button; we're just going to look for something that works out for everybody," he said.

Irons said he didn't see the city entering into any joint economic ventures with a potential developer, though there had been no decisions made on that front.

Irons described the intent of last week's meeting as exploratory, "just to see if it's a project that could be forwarded," he said, "If it has any merit, it will soon surface."

Staff Writer Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com.