Plans for a new park and other improvements in the Mills Community are advancing after the Foley City Council approved measures to move construction forward.

The council authorized services to revise stormwater plans and conduct topographic and tree surveys for the park site. City officials also approved renting equipment so Public Works Department crews can help clear the property and assist with construction.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said using city crews rather than outside contractors will reduce costs.

“Utilizing city forces may take a little longer,” Hellmich said. “But by renting this equipment, we think we’ll be able to save several hundred thousand dollars.”

Hellmich said the city has successfully used its employees on other public projects.

“We try to use city forces where we can,” he said. “Our crews were set up that way in order to do this. There are things that we don't do. We don't lay asphalt. That sort of thing is all commercial. But by doing this we will actually be saving a lot of money.”

The Mills Community became part of Foley in 2023 after residents voted for annexation. Since then, city officials have worked with residents to plan improvements, including sidewalks and other infrastructure upgrades.

“We’re still continuing to work on our park project out there, which is our newest park,” Hellmich said. “We’re acquiring some easements for the sidewalk project. The challenge in a certain way on the easements out there is that the roads are very narrow so building a sidewalk is very challenging.”

Sidewalks in Mills are expected to connect with the walkway system now being extended along North Cedar Street. The city also recently added a crosswalk at Airport Road and Baldwin County 65 to provide safer access for pedestrians traveling between Mills and neighborhoods to the east.