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2022 — APA DIVISION D GENERAL EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION — 2023 COVERING LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Vol. 16, No. 20 Opelika, Alabama Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 Your hometown newspaper created 'for local people, by local people.'

www.opelikaobserver.com

City of Auburn welcomes new parks & rec director AUBURN — The city of Auburn will welcome Alison Hall as its new Parks and Recreation director in March. A seasoned parks and recreation professional, Hall comes to Auburn from the city of Dothan, where she has served as Leisure Services director since 2020. Hall has served in a variety of roles throughout her 25 years in the parks and recreation field. A Dothan native, she began her parks and recreation career in Auburn. After graduating with a bachelor’s in government from Sweet Briar College in Virginia, she moved to pursue a master’s in public administration at Auburn University. Hall worked for the city of Auburn’s finance department during graduate school and became the city’s first cultural arts director in 1999. She managed and directed programs and events at the then-newly constructed Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, and she

co-founded Auburn CityFest, the city’s largest outdoor arts and crafts festival that will celebrate its 23rd year in April. She held various positions in the department over a 21-year span, overseeing Auburn Parks and Recreation’s community programs and special events, including programming for seniors and residents with special needs. In 2011, she began overseeing the city’s recreation and aquatics facilities. Along with her service through Auburn Parks and Recreation, Hall invested in the Auburn community off the job. She was an active board member and former board president for the United Way of Lee County, and she served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County and the Kiwanis Club of Auburn. In Dothan, she led a department of more than 300 employees and oversaw the management of more than 1,250 acres of park property, including 43 baseball/softball fields, 17

playgrounds, six pools and 22.5 miles of trails. During her tenure, Dothan Leisure Services hosted more than 45 athletic tournaments each year. Hall’s time as director brought with it significant upgrades to athletic facilities, recreation center improvements, program expansions and more. She worked with the Dothan Chamber of Commerce, Visit Dothan and RCX Sports to bring the country’s first-ever NFL Flag Football facility — outside of a city with a local NFL team — to Dothan’s Grandview Field. Using the new field and other parks, Dothan Leisure Services hosted the NFL Flag Super Regional Tournament in December, bringing in more than 60 teams from across the country. The department also recently completed a major three-phase renovation project at Dothan’s Rip Hewes Football Stadium, which has been in use since 1964. Later this year, the renovated facility will become home to a minor league soccer

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

ALISON HALL franchise, the Dothan United Dragons. Other projects included converting an old recreation center

into a full therapeutic programming center and significant improvements to the city’s water See HALL, page A3

Registration underway for 'Bo Bikes Bama' PHOTO BY ED SIKORA | FOR THE OBSERVER AU legend Bo Jackson during last year's ride to raise funds that support storm victims.

VIP Golf Experience, Kickoff Party also planned CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — The 13th annual Bo Bikes Bama charity ride will be held on the 13th anniversary of the 2011 tornadoes, Saturday, April 27, in Auburn. Bo Bikes Bama raises money for disaster recovery and preparedness in Au legend Bo Jackson’s home state of Alabama. “Each year, I ride with people from all over the country to remember the lives lost on April 27, 2011, and in other disasters since,”

Jackson said. “The money we raise each year supports lifesaving and life restoring work throughout the state to help communities in their greatest time of need. I look forward to riding on the 13th anniversary of the 2011 tornadoes on honoring the precious lives lost.” Bo Bikes Bama registration is open now through April 7 at www. bobikesbama.com. The cost to participate this year is $100 for a 60-mile ride and $75 for a 20-mile ride. A $55 at-home option will also

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Arbor Day is Feb. 24 Free tree seedling giveaways planned in Auburn, Opelika See page A2

be available for supporters unable to travel to Auburn. At-home participants can choose to bike or participate in any activity of their choosing to show support. Each registrant will be mailed a Bo Bikes Bama rider packet in advance, including a 2024 T-shirt, rider number, sticker and wristband. Registrants may also purchase limited-edition Bo Bikes Bama cycling jerseys and socks at the time of registration.

Jackson will host the second annual Bo Bikes Bama VIP Golf Experience on Friday, April 26. This event will be open to 12 individuals for $2,000 per person and includes a round of golf with Jackson, lunch, signed memorabilia and other perks.

SECOND ANNUAL VIP GOLF EXPERIENCE

See BO BIKES, page A2

INAUGURAL KICKOFF PARTY

New for 2024, Bo Bikes Bama will host a kickoff party on Friday, April 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Red

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