A public parking lot in the heart of downtown Foley will temporarily close next week as the city begins paving and improvement work aimed at supporting continued business growth in the area.

The lot, located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Alabama 59 and U.S. 98, will be closed from Monday, April 13, through Friday, April 17, according to Foley City Engineer Taylor Davis.

“It’s the parking lot in the middle of downtown,” he said. “They plan to pave that next week. Right now, we’re going door to door to adjoining businesses to let them know.”

City officials said the short-term closure is part of a broader effort to upgrade the site into a more modern and functional public parking facility. Work will include resurfacing, striping and installation of concrete curb stops across about 2,300 square yards of parking area.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the project is being carefully coordinated to avoid disrupting nearby businesses and other ongoing construction, including repairs to a building adjacent to the lot.

“That’s their primary importance,” Hellmich said. “We'll make sure we work around this so we don't cause any issue. We want to cause minimal disruption to businesses and once it's done, it will be a Class A parking facility that will serve those businesses.”

Following paving and striping, city crews will install landscaping features, including trees and plantings within newly added islands. Streetscape enhancements along Alabama 59 will also include flower beds and shrubs designed to improve the corridor’s appearance.

The city purchased the property in 2025 as part of its long-term plan to strengthen downtown infrastructure. Improvements to drainage are also planned to reduce runoff and enhance environmental performance at the site.

Officials said the upgrades are intended to provide more convenient and accessible public parking, improving access for customers, employees and visitors while supporting the continued growth of downtown Foley’s business district.