More funding requested to complete Little Lagoon nature park in Gulf Shores

Would bring budget to $6.4M for trails, bathrooms, launch amid protected land

BY RUTH MAYO
Reporter
ruth@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 1/15/25

GULF SHORES — Progress is being made with the 53-acre Laguna Cove project on Little Lagoon that the city plans to develop into a nature park with limited access to the public.

Dan Bond, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

More funding requested to complete Little Lagoon nature park in Gulf Shores

Would bring budget to $6.4M for trails, bathrooms, launch amid protected land

Posted

GULF SHORES — Progress is being made with the 53-acre Laguna Cove project on Little Lagoon that the city plans to develop into a nature park with limited access to the public.

Dan Bond, environmental/grants coordinator for the City of Gulf Shores, spoke on the project at the Jan. 6 city council work session. The park will be developed "for the purposes of conservation" as 50 out of the 53 acres on West Beach Boulevard will "remain protected as critical habitat for beach mouse and wetland habitats."

"It's a very nature-focused park project with limited access," Bond said. "(There will be) nature trails and some bathroom facilities, and an ADA kayak launch will be installed as well at the end (of the trails)."

According to a press release by the City of Gulf Shores, "with conservation as its primary focus, the site will feature carefully planned passive recreation
amenities that minimize environmental impact, including nature trails, wetland boardwalks, birding areas, kayaking access points, and interpretive educational areas. The additional funding will also support the construction of a small restroom facility to serve visitors."

Bond said 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 from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). With that, the city acquired the property and its protection.

This project was brought before the council because the city requested additional funding due to increased costs. At the Jan. 13 regular council meeting, the amendment to the budget was approved unanimously. At the Jan. 13 meeting, Bond said this piece of land was one of the "largest natural area left on the shoreline" in Gulf Shores.

At the Jan. 6 work session, Bond said the project went out to bid in 2022, but they came in over budget as "prices has gone up dramatically" from the time the property had originally been purchased.

According to the agenda item's document for the revised project budget, "ADCNR has authorized an additional $2 million in NRDA funding to allow the completion of the project."

Bond said this $2 million will "cover everything to complete the project."

Dennis Hatfield, Little Lagoon Preservation Society (LLPS) president, said group was the co-author of the original RESTORE project submittal post-oil spill. Hatfield said he thinks the park project will serve the area well and that he feels it would have been a "big environmental mistake to develop and encroach on those wetlands."

According to a presentation Hatfield made to the West Beach Property Owners group, the city will construct and operate the park after clearing hurricane debris and work on dune restoration for endangered beach mouse and other wildlife habitat.

"The City of Gulf Shores has worked hard to minimize the park's impact on West Beach residents," Hatfield said. "If properly managed by the city, the park can be a win for residents, Little Lagoon and the environment."