Media Tour of Bayfront Park; October 2024 Construction Update
Posted on: Oct 22nd, 2024 | News and Announcementsfeatured newsPress Releases
[event and construction photos below]
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. – Mobile County’s Bayfront Park remains temporarily closed for construction and renovation, but Mobile County Commission hosted a guided tour for local media on Monday, Oct. 21.
Commissioner Randall Dueitt, joined by staff from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff and Mobile County’s Department of Environmental Services welcomed several media representatives into the park and provided an update on construction progress.
Dueitt announced the target of reopening Bayfront Park in early 2025.
“I’m very excited and look forward to the opening of the newly renovated Bayfront Park,” said Commissioner Randall Dueitt as he discussed the work at Mobile County’s Bayfront Park. “The park features all-new playground equipment, seven newly constructed pavilions, an outdoor classroom, new restrooms, and offices for our staff. The park also features a newly constructed pocket beach that is 900 feet long. Construction of approximately 1,000 feet of boardwalk will begin in early 2025. The construction of the pocket beach at Bayfront Park, along with the acquisition of Cedar Point Pier, and the future Cedar Point Boat Ramp greatly improves, not only south Mobile County residents’ access to our waterways and natural resources, but all residents of Alabama’s access. I want to thank Governor Kay Ivey and Commissioner Chris Blankenship from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for their investments in all of these projects and for their investment in improving the quality of life for the residents of south Mobile County,”
“As the Lead NRDA Trustee for Alabama, funding projects like this that provide recreational waterfront access for our citizens and visitors is a top priority for me,” said Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “I am excited about our partnership with the Mobile County Commission on this important project and I appreciate Commissioner Duett for his leadership in supporting opportunities like this for his constituents. His and his staff's work with our Deepwater Horizon Restoration Coordinator Dr. Amy Hunter has been phenomenal and is transforming this part of south Mobile County,” he added.
Mobile County’s Bayfront Park was temporarily closed in March 2022 for major infrastructure construction and amenities improvement.
Some media questions and Mobile County responses:
- When will the park reopen?
- Early 2025 is the current reopening target for Bayfront Park.
- Early 2025 is the current reopening target for Bayfront Park.
- What’s been done?
- Planning/Design (some replanning/redesign)
- Demolition of existing facilities and infrastructure
- Materials acquisition
- Construction of an approx. 900-foot long, approximately 2-acre pocket beach
- What’s in progress?
- New playground
- New restroom/office building
- New parking and road
- New walking paths
- New pavilions
- What’s next?
- Funding has been identified to rebuild/expand the boardwalk. That portion of the project should go to bid in 2025.
- Funding has been identified to rebuild/expand the boardwalk. That portion of the project should go to bid in 2025.
- Why is it taking so long?
- There have been multiple sources of delay, predominantly supply chain delays and increases in materials costs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated repeating the bid process. These have made it difficult to award bids and some redesign/replanning has been necessary.
- There have been multiple sources of delay, predominantly supply chain delays and increases in materials costs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated repeating the bid process. These have made it difficult to award bids and some redesign/replanning has been necessary.
- What can the public expect once it reopens?
- Playground Area
- Picnic Tables/Picnicking
- Walking paths
- New Pocket Beach conducive to
- Swimming
- Paddling
- Fishing
- Crabbing
- Bird Watching
- Wetland Nature Habitat
The 2010 oil spill had far-reaching, negative impacts on the region’s environmental landscape. Mobile County’s Bayfront Park improvements are funded with Deepwater Horizon natural resource damage settlement funds provided by the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group with the support and participation of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The project cost is approximately $9.5 million. The renovation of Bayfront Park helps the Mobile County Commission meet its goals for Deepwater Horizon funding: to repair and enhance coastal resources while ensuring that Alabama’s beautiful shoreline is stable and flourishing for future generations’ enjoyment.
ADJACENT PROJECTS & PROPERTIES:
- Dauphin Island Causeway Shoreline Restoration Project to restore approx. 3.3 miles of shoreline to its 1917 location and create 100 acres of tidal habitat from Bayfront Park to Cedar Point. More info: www.mobilecountyal.gov/dauphin-island-causeway-shoreline-restoration-project
- Cedar Point Boat Ramp, funded by a 2023 $4.3 million State GOMESA grant provided by Gov. Ivey is in the design and permitting phase of project development. The project is to create a new launch on the west side of SR193 at Cedar Point with 50 boat parking spots.
EVENT & CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS:
Nautical-themed playground equipment to be installed at Mobile County's Bayfront Park
Restroom/Office building under construction
Pocket Beach
Pocket beach (where the rocks are was the park's shoreline prior to beach construction)
Road, parking, and sidewalks under construction
Pavilions and sidewalks under construction
