Downtown Foley will soon see pedestrian-friendly improvements, with new bollards and decorative lighting on the way.

Foley City Council approved the purchase of bollards designed to keep vehicles off sidewalks and pedestrian areas, aiming to enhance safety and accessibility. The bollards will also serve as aesthetic elements throughout the city.

Jeff Phillips, construction project manager, said cars have been obstructing pedestrian zones in some areas.

"On our Cat Alley project, for example, we have vehicles that are parking where people walk on sidewalks," Phillips said. "So while these bollards are decorative, they can also block traffic from parking on sidewalks."

The bollards will be installed in various parts of downtown and can be customized to reflect the community's character.

"The ones we're using around Cat Alley are going to have a cat logo on them. But you can also have city of Foley logos on these too," Phillips said. "These are also cheaper than the concrete-filled ones, so we can expand these to use throughout downtown."

The new barriers will share design similarities with those recently installed at the eastern entrance to Heritage Park, though the new models will feature a flat top for emblems, unlike Heritage Park's round-topped bollards.

In addition to bollards, the city will seek bids for decorative cafe-style lighting over West Jessamine Avenue, between Alabama 59 and North Alston Street, near the north entrance to Cat Alley. The strings of lights will stretch across the street, creating a more inviting atmosphere.

Phillips said officials have been working on the lighting plan for about two years, with a focus on ensuring trucks can pass safely beneath the lights.

"We've been trying to find the right poles," Phillips said. "You have to have the correct canopy for garbage trucks and all to pass underneath. We've finally got it and we're ready to go to bid."