County Manager Alex Dudchock said he expects an early 2006 closing on 200 acres along the Cahaba River that will form part of a park near Helena and Boothton.

Plans for the park include playgrounds and picnic areas on both sides of the river and mountain biking and hiking trails on the south side. Dudchock said river access for canoeing will be available on both river banks, and he expects it will be popular.

"You will be able to canoe in our location - which is about a mile of river, with access to areas with pockets of the Cahaba lily - and then continue on to locations below," he said. "This park will be a true means of traveling a significant length of the Cahaba River." The county announced in September it had an agreement with USS Real Estate to buy the land at $1,000 an acre.

But, according to Tom Howard, USS Real Estate Southeastern general manager, the sale stalled because of discussions concerning titles on some of the land, which consists of two separate sections.

"We've now resolved nearly all the title issues and expect to be able to close in January or February," said Howard. "The county has been working on this project for a year, and we know they are anxious to get it moving."

Dudchock said he also is eager to move negotiations along with the owners of 120 acres connecting the two USS parcels, which would make up the balance of the park.

But he said talks with Gulf States Paper Corp. and Cahaba Forest LLC/Hancock Forest Management are going slowly.

"At this point we've not had firm negotiations about the remaining properties, and it's hard to tell when we will," he said. "Some of the land is involved in pension funds, and the company representatives are both in and out of state, so that is making it difficult to organize discussions."

But Dudchock said he believes the deals can be done. "I'm optimistic the land acquisition will take place in 2006, and then we'll get into design and engineering," he said. "This is a long-term project because of the infrastructure needs, road development and (river) access. It will be done in phases and will take years to reach its full potential."