The city of Gulf Shores is moving forward with plans for a 127-acre Coastal Gateway Community Park and the North/South Connector Road.
The park will be along Coastal Gateway Boulevard, and city officials say it will benefit the growing population of north Gulf Shores.
“With the expansion of our community to the north, providing outdoor recreational space to our residents is a high priority for our mayor and council,” said Gulf Shores public information officer Grant Brown. “We’re excited to be able to begin building this new 127-acre park with input from our community and stakeholders.”
The city will begin having meetings concerning the project in mid-November and plans to seek input from the public at a later date.
Forty-six acres of the land was donated to the city in 2016 for schools, parks and other amenities to benefit north Gulf Shores. Five years later, the city held public “Let’s Build a Park” planning events. In December 2021, the city purchased an additional 81+ acres in the area to expand the tract. The land also includes a segment of the North/South Connector Road, which is intended to relieve some traffic off of Alabama Highway 59.
This week, the Gulf Shores City Council approved a resolution allowing Dix.Hite + Partners to develop a master plan for the public property. The company will provide consultation services, landscape design, architectural, engineering and program management for the Coastal Gateway Community Park and the North//South Connector Road. The council approved spending a maximum amount of $1,768,200 for those services.
Other amenities such as a fire station, a community pool, a playground, a pavilion, an amphitheater, restrooms and a dog park are also being considered for the area.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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