By ADAM P. BARR

Staff Writer

From shredding water behind a boat at Jimmie Davis State Park (Caney Creek Lake) to cycling through trails at Lincoln Parish Park, the Ruston area offers active recreational activities for Tech students and the community.

The McClain Recreational Center, located at 601 James St., is host to lessons for the community in various skills from ballroom dancing to tennis.

"Our purpose is to provide recreational facilities and activities for the betterment of the community," Jack Love, interim director of Ruston Parks and Recreation, said.

Local state parks D'Arbonne off Farmerville Highway; Jimmie Davis, off Highway 4 near Weston, La; and Claiborne off Highway 146 near Homer, La. all have lakes for water sports ventures.

Each of these recreational water spots have cabins for overnight stays, Sharon Broussard, public information officer for the Office of State Parks, said.

The cabins at Jimmie Davis Park are new for the summer and are larger than the pre-existing facilities, Broussard said.

Lincoln Parish Park located off LA 33 on Parish Park Road has a nationally known mountain biking trail stretching 10 miles through the park, James Ramsaur, Lincoln Parish Park director, said.

The parish park also has picnic areas, some with pavilions.

"Picnic Peninsula on the lake has 12 picnic tables and grills for organizations to have meetings," Ramsaur said.

The park has a 30-acre lake that was stocked in the late 80s with Florida striped bass, so fishing is good, but only electric motors can be used on boats, Ramsaur said.

D'Arbonne, 25 miles north on Farmerville Highway is the closest state park to Ruston.

In November of 2002 D'Arbonne received new cabins and lodges and other amenities.

The cabins sleep eight and rent for $65 per night; the lodges sleep 14 and rent for $130 per night.

The park offers recreational vehicle/tent camping, cabins, lodges, group camping, fishing piers, boat launches, swimming pool, hiking trails, tennis courts, picnic pavilions and a playground.