FORT MORGAN — After less than a year of walking on the temporary sandy access point, the Mobile Street beach access boardwalk is now open for public use.

Before construction on the new boardwalk started at the end of June last year, the old boardwalk was in need of repair after years of erosion and hurricane damage, according to Charmaine Pedrozo, program manager for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Gulf Restoration Office.

She said the Mobile Street beach access point, located in the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge down Fort Morgan Road, attracts around 57,000 visitors each year.

Jackie Sablan, refuge manager of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, said temporary access remained open to the public while the parking lot and boardwalk received upgrades.

"The Mobile Street boardwalk now features durable composite decking, enhanced signage and additional benches; all designed with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility in mind," Sablan said.

Upgrades to the parking lot include drainage improvements, a new informational kiosk and a fully accessible van parking spot "to better serve all visitors," she said.

Funding was designated from the "Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities Restoration Type" projects group within monies from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, which Pedrozo said focuses on "injuries to the public" through "lost or diminished recreational use" after the oil spill.

Pedrozo said, "Fortunately, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge had already initiated efforts to secure funding through the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group and the Deepwater Horizon settlement to replace the boardwalk and enhance the parking area through the Department of the Interior's Gulf Restoration Office."

The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge center is located at 12295 State Highway 180, A.K.A. Fort Morgan Road, in Gulf Shores.

Established in 1980 to protect habitats for migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, the refuge covers approximately 7,000 acres of coastal lands covering ecosystems from beach dunes to pine-oak woodlands, according to it's website at www.fws.gov/refuge/bon-secour.

"There is something for everyone at the refuge — from a quiet stroll among the dunes to world-class birding opportunities and trails, the refuge is a great way to enjoy the natural wonders of the Gulf Coast," the website reads.

Sablan agreed with that, saying, "We're thrilled to welcome the public back to enjoy easier and improved access to Bon Secour's stunning beaches — whether it's exploring the sand dunes, practicing nature photography, casting a fishing line, birdwatching or catching a glimpse of a passing dolphin."