The City of Foley is moving ahead with plans to develop a new park in the Mills community and link the area to its growing network of walkways.

Foley City Council recently voted to hire Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood, a design firm, to create a master plan for the project.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the park has been a priority since Mills residents voted to annex into the city in 2023.

"We bought the property for the new park," Hellmich said. "We have cleared the property. The design of the park is under progress. We've had several community meetings out there so they could provide input."
David Thompson, executive director of leisure services for Foley, said city officials have been collaborating closely with residents to shape the vision for the park.

"We worked with the Mills Community organization," Thompson said. "They're very happy about what we've proposed."

Once finalized, the park's design will reflect the feedback gathered from these community discussions.
In addition to the park, Foley is working on an initiative to build new sidewalks in the Mills community. The sidewalk project is part of a larger citywide effort to expand pedestrian access across Foley, Hellmich said.

"It's a sidewalk project in that community to make sure they're tied back into Foley," he said "We're working toward having all of our neighborhoods tied in."

The city allocated $1 million for sidewalk construction in its fiscal year budget that ended Sept. 30, and another $1 million is earmarked for the current fiscal year. The walkways in Mills will extend along Fern Avenue, connecting to the new sidewalk system on Cedar Street, and continue linking Peachtree Avenue to Juniper Street and heading south.

Foley also secured an $800,000 state Transportation Alternatives Program grant to extend sidewalks along Alabama 59, further enhancing pedestrian access throughout the city.

With both the park and sidewalk expansions underway, Foley officials are working to ensure the Mills community is seamlessly integrated into the city's infrastructure, providing recreational and pedestrian options for all residents.