GULF SHORES — Gulf Shores residents and visitors will soon see the construction of a 53-acre nature preservation park on Little Lagoon.

Clint Colvin, capital projects director for Gulf Shores, presented the item at the Jan. 5 Gulf Shores City Council work session where residents and council were able to ask questions on items presented. It was then unanimously approved at the Jan. 12 regular council meeting.

The city plans to preserve 51 of the 53 acres, which includes dune and wetland habitats, for restoration and conservation. The Laguna Cove Restoration project is located almost at the end of West Beach Boulevard on the north side of the road, south of Little Lagoon. Gulf and beach access is not available at this location.

Amenities are to include nature trails, boardwalks, an ADA kayak launch, restrooms and a small pavilion. The park will be closed to the public at night.

Council approved a contract with the lowest conforming bidder, Asphalt Services, in an amount not to exceed $2,670,000.

Colvin said the city currently has $2 million budgeted for the project because the city planned to start construction last year and carry payments forward to 2026. A future amendment will be needed to the budget, he said, but the entire project can be reimbursed with grants.

As previously reported by GCM, the city was awarded $4.4 million in 2019 as a part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process related to 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill funds, which were used to purchase the 53 acres and start the protection process.

“A long time ago, this was slated for development, but now the city has bought this and we primarily preserved [it],” Colvin said. “… The park will provide passive recreation opportunities for the community while restoring and protecting critical habitat.”

Little Lagoon will be accessible through the park via a boardwalk across wetlands to water access at a pier. On the west side of the site, a shorter path to a kayak launch will be built. Previously, the city planned for another boardwalk across wetlands but has removed it in current plans.