FAIRHOPE – A 40-acre parcel could become a new nature park under plans being considered by Fairhope city officials.
The city plans to apply for a federal grant to develop a park on the site at the southwest corner of Twin Beech Road and Baldwin County 13. The parcel is often referred to as the “Colony Property,” but is owned by the city, Fairhope Parks and Recreation Director Pat White said.
“This is a 40-acre piece that is a beautiful piece of property that’s not really utilized for anything at this point in time,” White said. “We do the best to maintain it, but a lot of the area is low lying so that it stays wet, and it is difficult for us to get in there and maintain on a regular basis.”
Jessica Walker, community development director, said the city is meeting with officials with the U.S. Economic Development Administration about an upcoming grant program.
“This would be for travel tourism and outdoor recreation,” Walker said. “This is something that they don’t typically fund. This is kind of a new thing for them. This is what we were hoping that this would fit, and we could make this fit. Obviously, we’ve got to show an economic development driver for that, whether that is the addition of jobs, or retention of jobs or having people in town.”
White said that if the funding is available, the city could build a lake on the site.
“I think this would be a great opportunity to have a nature park if you will. I’d like to see maybe a four or five-acre lake that I believe would help with some of the drainage issues there at the entrance to Cowpen Creek, but it would also be a great amenity for us,” White said. “We could utilize it as a stocked lake with a pier for kids to fish.”
White said some recreational opportunities available to Fairhope children have been lost over the years.
“As director of parks and recreation, I would like to find ways to create more opportunities for children and families to do outdoor recreation and entertainment within our city,” White said. “I grew up in this town and we had things like a bowling alley and a skating rink years ago. I just don’t feel like there’s a whole lot to do here for kids.”
White said officials do not have a total cost on the project. He said engineering could cost less than $50,000 and the lake about $100,000.
Other proposed projects on the site would not be as expensive. A disc golf trail would cost about $7,000, but could also be a major attraction.
“Our disc golf at Volanta Park is extremely popular and we have disc golfers there all hours of the day, seven days a week and it’s been a very big success and they would like to host more tournaments in our town,” White said. “So, I feel like this would be a good opportunity to have a really nice disc golf trail, which, in turn, would be walking trails and biking trails if that would come to fruition.”
City Council members said they supported the plan.
“I think it’s an excellent idea,” Councilman Corey Martin said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to go out and build on our recreation department as far as the community is concerned.”
Councilman Jay Robinson said the park would be a good use for unused city property.
“We’ve acquired property recently in several different areas and several different things and it’s time to try to start putting some of that into use and this is a good start, for sure,” Robinson said.
Council President Jack Burrell said the city needs more park space.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Burrell said. “I don’t think you can add enough parkland to a city and recreational facilities. I think that defines a community and we want to be a healthy community, a walkable community, whether you’re walking or playing disc golf.”
