Baldwin County will see the construction of a new boat launch and park on the Bon Secour River thanks to a $4.8 million grant enabled by offshore oil and gas production.

The Launch at CR6 sits on 16 acres at 5587 County Road 6 in Gulf Shores. The project will include construction of two boat ramps, a kayak launch, picnic gazebos, restroom facilities, a walking trail, parking and fishing and staging piers. According to the county, construction is expected to begin early 2024.

The $4,820,000 GoMESA grant awarded to Baldwin County Commission for the project was one of 27 in Baldwin and Mobile counties that Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday, July 14, as this year's Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act funding. GoMESA was created in 2006 as a revenue-sharing model for oil- and gas-producing gulf states. Under the act, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas receive a portion of the revenue generated from oil and gas production offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The act also directs a portion of revenue to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

“Baldwin County is blessed with numerous unique river systems and waterways, including the Bon Secour River located in the southwest portion of the county.  The Bon Secour River is rich with history and diversity, but there are currently no publicly owned access points within the river system to facilitate boating and other recreation," said Frank Lundy, county engineer. "The county pursued this grant in accordance with Strategic Plan goals to provide better public access, and we are extremely grateful for Gov. Ivey’s administration for also recognizing this need and providing the funding for this project.”

The 27 projects awarded for 2023 are being funded with $67 million. With Friday's announcement, 78 GoMESA projects, worth more than $180 million, have been awarded during Ivey's administration.

Full list of 2023 State of Alabama funded GoMESA projects:

• Dauphin Island Beach Renourishment Engineering, Design and Permitting: $1,250,000
• Lewis Landing Public Access Mobile County: $1,500,000
• Chocolatta Bay Boat Ramp Replacement Mobile Causeway: $650,000
• Cedar Point Boat Ramp Mobile County: $4,300,000
• Foley Nature Parks Expansion: $5,000,000
• The Launch at CR6 Boat Ramp Baldwin County: $4,820,000
• Viewpoint Boat Ramp Improvement Weeks Bay: $1,678,800
• Daphne Bayfront Park Amphitheater and Park Improvements: $7,200,000
• Chickasaw Stormwater Management Improvements Phase I: $2,474,500
• Daphne Utilities Hwy 90 Force Main Stabilization: $187,500
• Robertsdale Centennial Park Amphitheater: $2,000,000
• Fairhope Magnolia Beach Renourishment: $620,000
• Fairhope Fly Creek Stream Restoration Project: $2,740,000
• Mobile County Water, Sewer, and Fire Septic to Sewer Project: $1,327,500
• Chickasaw Brooks Park Public Access Phase II: $485,000
• Dauphin Island Water and Sewer Rehabilitation Project: $3,246,455
• Port of Mobile Coastal Resiliency Study: $200,000
• Bartram and Perdido Canoe Trails Expansion: $1,906,000
• USA Healthy Oceans Initiative Phase II: $1,229,154
• City of Mobile Hall's Mill Creek Public Access Project: $2,500,000
• Perdido Watershed Land Acquisition Fund: $7,000,000
• Spanish Fort Causeway Improvements: $3,000,000
• GoMESA 2023 Administration: $397,988
• West Fowl River and Heron Bay Land Acquisition (4,740 acres): $5,214,000
• Beach Club West Acquisition: $4,000,000
• Mt. Vernon Boating Access Improvements: $2,000,000
• GoMESA Administration 2022: $278,686
• Total: $67,205,633