Kendall Phillips was 6 when she painted her hand and placed it on the wall of the completed Gulf Shores Kids Park in 1996.

Phillips's father was one of 1,500 community volunteers who helped construct the large wooden fantasy fortress at Johnnie Sims Park, finishing just six days 30 years ago. Now, the City of Gulf Shores is seeking the public's input on what the next iteration of play will look like as they plan to rebuild the iconic corner park.

Phillips, who now has three children of her own, attended a public input event held at the Bodenhamer Center on Saturday, April 25, along with many other families and community members.

"We were raised in this park, and now we get to raise our kids here," she said. "I think it’s huge for the city to value our input."

A $940,000 capital improvement project approved by council in late March will use $39,000 of its budget for design, leaving about $900,000 for construction. The playground will be designed and built by Leather and Associates, the same company responsible for the original playground.

"They are going to use the original footprint, and the trees that keep the shade canopy there is really important," Gulf Shores Director of Parks and Recreation Grant Brown said. "The idea is to keep the charm, keep it consistent and make sure the play elements that we choose are keeping with what parents want."

That means preserving the wall with the handprints of Phillips and so many others while adding another one for the next generation of kids who will enjoy the park.

Boards set up in the lobby of the Bodenhamer Center featured photos of different types of play elements: tunnels, slides, swings, sitting areas. Attendees were encouraged to put green dots on the elements they liked the most.

The data collected at the public input event will be combined with the results of an online survey, available on the city’s website, www.gulfshoresal.gov/kidspark. The deadline for submitting a survey is May 22.

Brown said approved design elements are due June 1, with construction set to begin in September and a targeted completion date of late November, early December.

While the construction of this new playground will largely be handled by the professionals at Leather and Associates, there will be opportunities for community volunteers to help with certain portions. There is a plan to include another wall with handprints.

"We do feel like there is some value in having some sweat equity," Brown said.

The new playground will also not only be ADA compliant but will incorporate accessibility into each part of the design.

"That's who we are as a city," Brown said. "We want all children to play together."