Eastern Shore cities planning waterfront recreation projects

State funding to provide about $13 million for parks, other improvements

By Guy Busby, guy@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 1/19/22

DAPHNE – Eastern Shore mayors said their cities made major improvements in 2021 and they are looking forward to upcoming projects, including about $13 million in grants for waterfront parks and recreation projects.

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Eastern Shore cities planning waterfront recreation projects

State funding to provide about $13 million for parks, other improvements

Posted

DAPHNE – Eastern Shore mayors said their cities made major improvements in 2021 and they are looking forward to upcoming projects, including about $13 million in grants for waterfront parks and recreation projects.

The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce held its annual “State of the Cities” meeting Jan. 12. Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan, Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune and Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan discussed issues facing the Eastern Shore cities in the last year and plans for the future.

All three mayors said one major improvement will be new parks and recreational opportunities paid for with grants through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, known as GOMESA.

“Collectively here on the Eastern Shore, we’re going to look at $13 million in green space and recreation for our residents from GOMESA,” Sullivan said. “So, that’s huge. Those are things that we can all enjoy across the Eastern Shore and things we collaborate on to make sure the residents have the recreational opportunities that other folks across the country have.”

Spanish Fort received $8.5 million to buy 144 acres on Bay Minette Creek. Daphne received $4 million for Bayfront Park improvements and Fairhope received $1 million that will be used for work on the new nature park at the Triangle, mayors said.

“Plans have yet to be developed, but a general concept is to make a family-friendly park, walking trails, picnic areas, those kinds of things,” McMillan said of the Spanish Fort project. “The view there is unbelievable.”

He said city officials are also working on plans to develop another waterfront park on the Causeway east of the Battleship that was purchased with GOMESA funding in 2021.

McMillan said Spanish Fort also worked in 2021 to improve technology at the city. The city began posting videos of City Council meetings during the year as well as improving technology for the Police Department.

Another public safety improvement planned in 2022 will be merging with the Volunteer Fire Department to make the department a city agency. The city has also purchased land for a new fire station to be built across the street from City Hall and to make the current main fire station the Public Works Department building.

LeJeune said Daphne is also new construction in public safety and other areas.

The city set aside $1 million to go toward the expansion of the Daphne Justice Center. The mayor said the move will allow some patrol division units now using a satellite office off U.S. 90 to be placed in the main police office.

“We’ve got a lot of our patrol out there at the Home Depot satellite office,” LeJeune said. “It’s been great to have that place for patrol. The issue we have seen is the disconnect between those people out there and the command staff at the Justice Center.”

The city also set aside $1 million for construction of a new animal shelter and the same amount for a new amphitheater and other improvements at Bayfront Park.

“That’s a large project we’re looking forward to, to enhance our waterfront access and get people back out on the bay,” LeJeune said.

He said Daphne is also working on a comprehensive land use plan for the next 20 years, Envision Daphne 2042. The first public meetings on the plan were held in 2021 and more meetings are scheduled for February, he said.

Fairhope also began work on a new comprehensive plan, Sullivan said.

She said another effort to deal with growth in Fairhope was a moratorium on new developments in the planning jurisdiction outside the city limits.

“Subdivisions and MOPs, or multiple occupancy projects, we have halted those, even if you choose to annex into the city,” she said. “There’s already so much on the books, I’m not sure people are going to notice much of a change, but it will give us a chance to work on one of those Restore projects, which is a comprehensive plan update, some zoning changes that will help us, hopefully, manage some of the growth going forward.”

Sullivan said Fairhope did well in 2021. The city approved a budget in October. She said the action was the first time that Fairhope has approved a budget at the start of the fiscal year in about a decade.

“For us as a municipality, that is huge,” Sullivan said. “The budget actually didn’t pass until February or April. For us that means, from a staff standpoint, they can’t start major projects. They can’t put things out for bid until the budget passes. There are some things you can take individually to the council to approve but having that budget in place really gives them the guide and the tools they need to plan for the year and to really hit the ground running.”

She said the city is also working on a $12-million expansion of the city electric system and $10 million in sewer system upgrades.

“There’s been a lot going on in 2021. We’re very proud of those accomplishments and looking forward to 2022,” Sullivan said.