By Staff
Kim West
The Russellville Parks and Recreation Department has taken advantage of an empty Sloss Lake to renovate the fishing piers.
The leak in the lake's dam, which sprung a leak during the summer and is still being repaired, has allowed department workers to extend the existing piers.
"When we found out about the dam, it was kind of blessing in disguise because we've been able to do some catch-up work on the piers," said Chad Sears, director of Russellville Parks and Recreation. "We started work last week and we should be finished with the project in a week or two.
"When they put the water back into the lake, we're going to re-stock it with 500 brim per acre and 50 bass per acre, plus channel catfish. There will be much bigger variety of fish than (before the leak)."
Sears said department workers provided the labor for the project, which was funded by the department budget.
"We have good workers who have done a good job on this project, which kept the cost of labor down," he said.
The department has also added Oldhausen pool tables to the Russellville Recreation Center and Chucky Mullins Center, which has a $19,000 basketball court renovation project underway.
"We're installing the basketball court flooring right now, which is a type of laminate hardwood," Sears said. "The new floor will enhance the looks of the basketball court, and I'm hoping to bring the Alabama Parks and Recreation state basketball tournament here to Russellville.
"The pool tables are example of ways we can provide more leisure activities for adults and children. In the future, we would also like to add bumper pool, a foosball table and a Wii interactive gaming system."