The Fairhope Recreation Board has completed several capital improvements to the city's recreation facilities between 2020 to 2023, and now it looks ahead as its five-year plan got the green light.

Recent projects include:

• Four additional baseball fields at Volanta Park;
• Competition track and field at Founders Park;
• Six pickleball courts at Quail Creek;
• New bathroom facility at Founders Park; and
• Football stadium improvements that include ADA compliance and updates to the visitor's side.

The five-year plan was adopted by Fairhope City Council during a July 8 city council meeting. The board has five upcoming projects for the 2024 budget year, including repairs and maintenance on the Municipal Pool, a new concession and bathroom facility at Volanta, the fitness court currently underway, LED light installation at the football stadium and expansion of the existing press box.

Over the next five years, 2024-2029, the recreation board has several proposed projects across the city. The project at the top of the list to address is the Volanta Master Plan and parking issues. Any resident who has attended a sporting event or graduation at Volanta Park will understand the need for parking improvements.

The recreation board has proposed:

• Relocating the skate park to Founders Park in the lower field;
• Using all available unused space in front of the recreation center and redesigning any current parking to add spaces;
• Addressing the hillside on the west side of the Volanta property; and
• Creating a secondary facility gym and locker room at Volanta.

Within the agenda packet, the recreation board provided participation numbers for the youth sports leagues, which help to highlight the need for facilities and parking as the population in Fairhope continues to grow. The current youth league data listed 350 boys ages 5 through 15 playing fall baseball and 650 in the spring. The summer swim program has 350 youth participants. Other data include:

• Youth soccer — 500
• Soccer academy — 250
• Fall cheer — 95
• Winter basketball — 600
• Softball — 110
• Tackle football — 170
• Fall flag football — 170
• Spring flag football — 170

"Routine operation and maintenance activities continue to be strained by program growth within the city's recreation programs. Current rec programs enrollment shows the still present and immediate need for additional facilities in all leagues with practice space and game playing fields," documents state.

"The high volume of users of all current facilities has created a critical need for additional facilities and land to expand both for playing and for parking. This heavy usage leads to more frequent mowing, painting and minor and major repairs in all areas of facilities. This current usage and pace of growth have reached a critical point in the city's future viability in youth recreation sports."

A second proposed project for the five-year plan includes a property acquired by the city in 2019 for future recreation purposes. The 113-acre property on County Road 13 and County Road 32 was purchased for $2.65 million. The plan sets the goal of having studies and surveys completed to determine the best areas of the property to build on, determine what's needed on the property, begin infrastructure and plant work, get green spaces ready for use and decide order of build outs for future phases.

In 2019 the city of Fairhope acquired the 113-acre property (highlights in pink) on County Road 13 and County Road 32 for future recreation purposes. …

The remaining list of proposed projects include:

• Barnwell Fairhope Youth Football Facility master plan, identifying areas for immediate work and buildings needing improvements and the addition of permanent parking areas;
• Parking expansion ideas for all current youth sports properties;
• Shelter and multi-use space for Manley, Founders and Colony;
• Review the Colony Management Plan to determine what can be done for improvements at the property;
• Explore practice field additions at Fairhope East Elementary School, Fairhope West Elementary School and Fairhope High School and practice light options in those areas;
• Continue LED light installation at all recreation parks; and
• Discuss pool options and improvements/additional pool.