The Selma Boating Association gathered Saturday to join and have a good time, but also raise awareness to the need for a new marina.

“When a marina was here, there would be people coming constantly,” Judy Twilley, a member of the boating association said. “It burned down in 2009, but you can see that there is still definitely a need for it. These people need a place to get together.”

The 78 member boating association has been around for more than 15 years, longer than other big associations like Montgomery.

“This is a hardcore group of people that all come together with a common love,” Twilley said. “Today is just about saying we missed the marina and we want it back. There have been bunches of people that have come by car and by boat. So we can bring it back.”

Twilley said she and her husband, Henry and boat association president Linda Morris have gone before the parks and recreation committee and the mayor in order to plea the case for the marina.

“We feel like the city ought to be listening, but they haven’t,” Twilley said. “There is definitely a need and all these people are proof of that.

“With a marina you can bring in money during fishing and boating tournaments and we can’t do that right now.”

While hosting the party, members of the association replaced the flag flying over the site that was once the marina.

“We are responsible for the flagpole, because we put it up,” Twilley said. “We want to show we will do what it takes to keep this area looking good.”