GULF SHORES — Whether you're visiting for a few months or living in the area full time, you may be curious about recent updates from the City of Orange Beach.
Attendees at the Jan. 29 Winter …
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GULF SHORES — Whether you're visiting for a few months or living in the area full time, you may be curious about recent updates from the City of Orange Beach.
Attendees at the Jan. 29 Winter Series event, held by Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism at the Gulf State Park Learning Center, heard from Orange Beach City Administrator and Finance Director Ford Handley on updates ranging from new pickleball courts to current city finances.
Within the presentation, he focused on municipal and commercial developments, infrastructure improvements and general city information, such as upcoming events and city resources. He also spoke about the redesigned city logo and new council members.
Orange Beach projects range from environmental protection to new restaurants, hotels, condos and shopping districts.
The City of Orange Beach joined the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) and The Nature Conservancy in Alabama in a restoration project on the Lower Perdido Islands: Robinson Island, Walker Island and Bird Island.
According to previous GCM reporting, in July 2025, volunteers worked alongside scientists, engineers and city officials to plant native vegetation on Walker Island as part of an ongoing restoration effort for the islands.
In April last year, the city unanimously approved an ordinance enforcing the type of commercial activity allowed on beaches, shorelines and waterways, which, at that time, Coastal Resources Deputy Director Nicole Woerner said was created to prevent the coastal area from getting "overrun" with commercial activity.
Currently the city is in the process of constructing a sea turtle emergency room, something that Handley said was not on his "bingo card for upcoming Orange Beach developments." The city also currently has two building moratoriums in place, one specifically barring development on wetland zones.
On Jan. 6 this year, the city held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Wildlife Center's new 10-acre site. Though not currently open to the public, the center is set to host public events in the future.
According to Handley's presentation, the Wildlife Center took in 865 animals in 2025 and received 1,385 calls.
Despite the millions of tourists that visit the city each year, Handley said the city works to prioritize environmental protection.
"We all know about the traffic, we all know that we're building condos, but you have to protect the natural resources that are here because at the end of the day, that's why people come here," he said. "They come here for our beautiful beaches, our beautiful water, and we need to be good stewards of that."
On new developments, Handley said one of the bigger projects underway is Margaritaville, which is set to have 6 aceres of pools and lazy rivers, 175 rental/residential units and a transient marina area featuring hotels, condos, restaurants, shops and a ferry service across the Intracoastal Waterway to The Wharf.
Other projects mentioned in his presentation include Portside on Main, The Wharf's new shopping and eating district; Sunliner Diner on Perdido Beach Boulevard; Phoenix South Point, currently under construction next to the city beach and Coastal restaurant with a crane set to come down in about a month; Phoenix Key, also currently under construction further east on Perdido Beach Boulevard; a newly opened Springhill Suites; Tapestry apartment complexes behind Orange Beach Walmart currently under construction; and the 256 ABACO Orange Beach condo units are currently under construction on Canal Road.
The city is currently in the process of building 14 pickleball courts, which are set to open around the middle of March at the Orange Beach Recreation Center. Construction also added restrooms and improved the parking lot.
Another municipal project, which is set to begin this year continue into 2027, is the revamped pool and new aquatic center. Additional lanes will be added to the current pool and on the same site a splash pad and a resistance river, used in athletic swimming, will be added.
The site will also see a new lifeguard training facility and a meeting space for birthday parties or other poolside gatherings.
Sidewalk improvements have recently been seen throughout Orange Beach, including from The Wharf to Commercial Avenue, near the Orange Beach Golf Center, and from the rec center and elementary school to the end of Bear Point.
The city faced some issues with right of way along Canal Road and is not likely to have a parallel connected path soon.
Handley said the city is currently working with ALDOT on the Canal Road Bypass, to the west of the Canal Road and State Road 161 intersection.
Though it has been in the works for a few years now, he hopes the city can acquire permits for the project by the end of next year.
New roadways, parking areas and buildings can be expected soon as the city plans to create a Downtown Orange Beach district. Handley said it will be like what The Wharf is now but more unique to the residents of Orange Beach.
A Downtown Orange Beach or town center was discussed at a recent public input meeting for the city's comprehensive study on growth and infrastructure needs. The community hub is set to be located near the Coastal Arts Center.
Types of services and buildings conceptually projected for this district include a new community center, coffee shops, a restaurant or two, a small boutique hotel, retail stores, office and/or studio spaces, protected green spaces and walking trails.
In an update on the city's finances, Handley said the city tries to have enough money set aside for a full year of municipal operation, including the 400-plus full-time employees and 350-plus seasonal employees, without any revenue.
Handley said this basically "means that we can run the city if we didn't get a dime of revenue for at least a full year and still provide all the services that we do."
Orange Beach's assessed property continues to grow, currently with $2.8 billion assessed property value within city limits.
Currently, the debt is $120 million. Handley said with the city's assessed property value, they can borrow up to $400 million. The city was debt free in 2021 but took out debt to fund the new high school buildings.
Despite being the newest public school district in Baldwin County, Orange Beach City Schools ranked highest in the county in 2024/2025 report card scores with an overall score of 98.
In October last year, Orange Beach Middle/High School saw completion of the construction on the $46.1 million athletics center, which includes a competition gym and a two-story kinesiology building.
Another city project completed last year was the Veteran's Memorial. Handley said the city plans to add a flag representing the Space Force soon. The city also plans to implement a memorial brick project for the site in the future.
For events to go to in the city, Handley mentioned the upcoming Mardi Gras parades set to roll out in the coming weeks and the Feb. 28 Seafood Fest. For things to do, he suggested checking out the Orange Beach Public Library and the Orange Beach Senior Center calendars as they both have "something going on every day."
More information on city events and activities can be found on the official Orange Beach website.
