GSPark Ziplines to come down...
State says contract on Gulf State Park zip lines won't be renewed | GulfCoastNewsToday.com
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State says contract on Gulf State Park zip lines won't be renewedAlabama opts out on second four years for attractionBY JOHN MULLEN johnm@gulfcoastmedia.com
GULF SHORES, AL – Alabama Director of State Parks Greg Lein says the state will not renew a contract for Hummingbird Zip Lines and Gulf Adventure Center at Gulf State Park for another four years.
Lein said plans are being studied for dismantling the towers at the widely popular attraction, which he said the owners must undertake per the contract.
Owners of the business are seeking negotiations with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to extend the contract for four more years.
“There’s provisions in the contract for additional four-year terms but they are by mutual agreement and we’re not interested in any additional contract period,” Lein said. “His contract expires after four years and it’s not being renewed, basically.”
Tom Schlinkert said he is seeking mediation, per the terms in the contract, on the state’s decision.
“I’m just really waiting to see what DCNR’s next move is,” he said. “In this political environment I don’t rule out anything. I want to renew the contract and I don’t want to do it on a yearly basis.
“We’re entitled to another and the contract is set up to be renewed for another four years. That’s what the state committed to and that’s what we think they should live up to.”
Lein says the mediation will be about the terms of removal.
“There is a provision in the contract that allows for mediation and I think there is some question about the removal of the structures and things like that,” Lein said. “As I understand it that’s being explored between the lawyers. I wouldn’t describe that as something relative to having four more years or anything like that. The question is about the removal of the towers and things like that.”
Schlinkert says his relationship with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has always been good and talks were going well until recently.
“It is my sense that this decision is not being made by DCNR, who is in charge of the state parks, due to their ongoing cooperation,” Schlinkert said. “It would appear that the developers of the lodge project have intervened.”
Other activities at the park, Lein said, may have played a role in the decision not to renew the contract.
“There’s a lot of changes going on down at that park,” Lein said. “We may eventually want a zip line somewhere else in the park but we’re not at a point where we know for certain what we want to do relative to that kind of concession operation.”
Schlinkert says he asked for mediation on the contract a week ago and hasn’t heard back from the state. That contract is up for renewal on Oct. 1 and Schlinkert had a meeting with his staff on the topic the morning of Aug. 17.
“I had a lengthy conversation with our employees this morning on where we were and what our efforts are going to be,” he said.
Schlinkert said his relationship with the state park and DCNR has been beneficial for both parties in the first four years of operation.
“We are an incredible asset to the state and the park and have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in improvements and in direct cash payments to the park,” he said.
