We are non profit service club

focusing on the youth of our community.

Brief History

The Optimist Club of Huntsville was chartered in 1947 due to the efforts of Thomas Dark. Since then the Club has been a leader in supporting the youth in our community.

In the early days, the Club ran concession stands at many events at the old coliseum to raise funds for their youth projects.

In the early 1950’s the Club purchased a baseball field and a lot adjacent to it on Oakwood Avenue from the old mills that had closed. For many years, the Club ran the baseball field and supported the baseball teams in the community. They also ran horse shows, fishing derby’s, and many other events on this property.

When Interstate 565 was being constructed, the City of Huntsville purchased the land from the Club for use with the highway project. In the deed the Club had a clause stating that if the land was not used for the highway, then it had to be used for youth purposes.

The highway eventually was routed just North of the land. The City of Huntsville asked the Club to help in building a recreation center on the land adjacent to the ball field. The Club gave the City of Huntsville $100,000 to build the recreation center. Today it is called the Optimist Recreation Center, The baseball field is named Optimist Park, and the City of Huntsville owns and runs the facilities.

Our club meets at the recreation center on the second Tuesday of each month at 6.00 pm. We are a diverse club and all are welcome.