Chilton County’s only ATV park is making it easier for ATV and dirt bike riders to beat the summer heat when out on the trails.

Minooka Park has extended its hours on Friday to 8 p.m. for the months of July and August, in an effort to take advantage of the cooler daylight hours.

This Friday, the park will be open until midnight for its first Midnight Ride, which, hopefully, will draw a big crowd of ATV and dirt bike enthusiasts.

On that day, the park will open at 9 a.m. as usual. Regular admission will be charged, and all riders must have proper lighting before they can ride after dark.

If the Midnight Ride goes well, it will likely become a regular event, said park manager Gerald Arrington.

Extending park hours and holding special events are ways the county can utilize the park to its greatest benefit. We hope it will prove to be a success.