Foley is developing a master plan to guide the expansion and coordination of municipal facilities in its historic downtown area as the city prepares for continued growth.

Foley City Council approved a proposal from Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to develop a municipal campus master plan. The plan is intended to help the city coordinate future facilities, infrastructure and improvements while continuing efforts to enhance municipal services and downtown Foley.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the plan will provide a framework for coordinating future construction and infrastructure projects.

"This gives us a framework for how future buildings, sidewalks, lighting, streetscapes and other improvements can work together,” Hellmich said. “It is not intended to lock the city into one plan, but to give us guidance as needs and opportunities change. Coordinating these investments ahead of time can help us avoid unnecessary costs and make better use of taxpayer dollars. Good planning now can save the city significant money in the future.”

The planning area stretches from Alabama 59 east to Juniper Street and from Section Avenue south to Myrtle Avenue, said Cian Harrison, Foley's executive director for general government/administration.

The plan will establish a long-term framework for how the city uses the area, including the placement and expansion of buildings, public spaces, streetscapes, pedestrian connections and wayfinding. It also will help officials evaluate potential property needs and support long-term capital planning and budgeting, Harrison said.

"This will establish a shared vision for the campus, and that framework will guide future decisions related to building placement, campus expansion, public spaces, streetscapes, pedestrian connections, wayfinding and potential property needs, while also supporting long-term capital planning and budgeting," she said.

Several municipal facilities have opened in the planning area this summer.

The Public Works Campus opened in July on a 14-acre site at the intersection of North Poplar Street and East Section Avenue. The campus includes the Engineering Department, city garages and other facilities.

The Foley Community Library opened on East Orange Avenue in August. The two-story facility provides about twice the space of the building it replaced.

The Foley Activity Center operates from the former National Guard armory on East Jessamine Avenue. The facility houses offices for Leisure Services, Parks and Recreation and the Communications Department.

The city also is planning additional municipal services and facilities in the area.

The former library building next to City Hall is slated for renovation and conversion to administrative offices. The property used by Public Works since the 1990s, between East Orchid Avenue and East Marigold Avenue, will be adapted for use by the Parks Department.

The city also plans to construct a new Senior Center behind City Hall near the Activity Center.

Another major project is a new Civic Center. The existing center opened in the 1970s, when Foley's population was fewer than 4,000. The city now has about 32,000 residents, creating a need for a larger facility to serve the growing community.

Current plans call for the new Civic Center to be built on property north of Heritage Park.

A museum also is planned for the area near the proposed Civic Center. The museum will highlight Foley's role as a center of Navy aviation training during and after World War II, including the city's connection to Barin Field.

Barin Field, the Navy aviation training center, opened in Foley in 1942.

The National Park Service has designated Foley as an American World War II Heritage City. Only one community in each state or territory can receive the designation.

The planned museum will highlight Foley's contribution to the war effort and the history of Barin Field, adding another component to the city's broader plans for the area.