A 93-acre wetland preserve designed to highlight stream restoration and improve water quality at the headwaters of the Bon Secour River is moving closer to opening, with public access expected within the next year.

Foley City Council recently approved construction of an access road to the Andrew James Wetland Preserve, allowing visitors to reach the site once initial phases are complete. Plans include a small parking area capable of accommodating up to two buses, supporting school groups and guided tours.

Work at the site began after Hurricane Sally struck in 2020, leaving debris across the area. What started as a cleanup effort evolved into a long-term environmental project, with the city later designating the property as a wetlands reserve focused on conservation and education.

The preserve serves as a floodwater mitigation system, a natural water treatment area and a protected habitat for wildlife. The project was fully funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Construction is ongoing, with full completion scheduled for the city’s 2027 fiscal year. Even so, city officials say the environmental impact is already evident.

Leslie Gahagan, Foley’s sustainability and natural resources director, said rainfall regularly causes the Bon Secour River to overflow into the wetlands, where pollutants are filtered from the water before it moves downstream.

Over time, that process has improved water quality and helped restore the ecosystem. The site now features waterfowl nesting areas, native wildflowers and a pond filled with fish.

Gahagan said the preserve will give visitors a chance to observe both wildlife and the results of restoration efforts following the hurricane.

"This is a great opportunity to see stream restoration and the after effects," she said. "This is probably one of the key ones that people come to see in the county."

The city envisions the area as a passive recreation space where visitors can explore the natural environment and learn about watershed restoration.

The preserve is named for Andrew James, an engineer who helped design the project and died in 2023.