Magnolia Beach Park is set for a major restoration and stabilization effort aimed at combating ongoing erosion, city officials announced Tuesday.

Funded through a Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) grant, the project will include constructing an offshore breakwater system and extensive beach nourishment to protect the shoreline and nearby infrastructure.

Magnolia Beach has experienced repeated erosion over the past two decades, requiring costly sand replenishments. According to a March 2024 report by Gulf Coast Media, the city had previously approved a $620,000 GOMESA grant for a long-awaited shoreline restoration project. The project, estimated at $700,000 at the time of the report, included the construction of two breakwaters made of natural materials to reduce wave action and encourage sand accumulation. The city was responsible for $80,000 in post-project monitoring costs.

Fairhope officials have not confirmed if the current plans remain the exact same as those reported last year, but residents will have an opportunity to learn more and provide input at a community meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the James P. Nix Center, 1 Bayou Drive in Fairhope. City officials said the improvements will help preserve Magnolia Beach for future generations while enhancing the park's resilience against coastal erosion.