FAIRHOPE — Residents flooded Fairhope City Council members with letters, emails and phone calls regarding the proposed location of a fitness court, and now council is walking back their initial decision.

During the Fairhope State of the City Expo in late January, Mayor Sherry Sullivan announced that the city had acquired a .09-acre parcel of land at the Fairhope Pier Park area and announced the plan for the property.

"Our current plan for that piece of property is to clear the building off it, clean it up and then add a fit court," Sullivan said.

The Fitness Court System procurement was approved by Fairhope City Council in September 2023. Funding for the project comes from grants totaling $120,000 from Fairhope Single Tax Corporation, Fairhope Rotary Club and Blue Cross Blue Shield grants. The city will find additional costs not to exceed $100,000.

The original plan was to install the fitness court on the west end of the Mike Ford Tennis Center, but Councilman Jack Burrell asked council to reconsider the location during that September 2023 council meeting. At that time, Burrell said he had been approached by someone willing to help purchase the old café property at the Fairhope Pier.

Sullivan said the Recreation Board and city council agreed a fitness court would see more pedestrian traffic and use at the pier than the tennis center.

Residents and the wives of city council members did not agree with council on the best location for the fitness court and made their opinions known.

During the April 8 city council work session, the fitness court location came up for discussion. Council President Corey Martin brought up that the original resolution wording was amended to say, "Mike Ford Tennis Center or another location," back in September 2023.

Martin also said he has no problem with the fitness court being placed at the Mike Ford Tennis Center.

"As long as we have a fitness court, I am happy with that. Where we put it is a fight for another day," Martin said. "The Mike Ford Tennis Center is a good place for it; it fits. Both fit, but if the community wants it there (at the Mike Ford Tennis Center) that is not a sword I need to fall on."

Councilman Jay Robinson said, "After seeing what this looks like constructed, I think it is absolutely the wrong place to put it down by the pier."

Anyone interested in seeing what the finished fitness court will look like and its functions can visit an identical court located between the main concession stand and dog park at Al Trione Sports Complex in Daphne.

Councilman Jack Burrell, who first mentioned the idea of placing it at the Fairhope Pier Park location, said he agreed with Robinson on how the court looks. But all council members seemed to agree the fitness court would see more use at the pier due to sheer foot traffic. Burell also said he thinks there is some misconception about what the fitness court is.

"Some people won't like it because they want a natural area, and I get that. There is no equipment so to speak. It is all handles and bars and things like that," Burell said. "I also think there is some misconception that it doesn't go there what could potentially go down there — food trucks, ice cream — and I don't think that is going to happen. It is not a this rather than that for me."

Martin credited the wives of councilmen because they all said they felt placing the fitness court at the pier was a poor choice and let their opinions be known.

"I think it would get 10 times the use, but like Council President Martin said, if we have had this much pushback, I am going to listen to the people," Burrell said.

Council did not need to vote on the change due to the wording of the resolution. They said Martin will let Sullivan know the fitness court will need to be placed at the Mike Ford Tennis Center.

How would you like to see the property used? Email Melanie LeCroy at melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com.