GULF SHORES, AL - The City of Gulf Shores is moving forward with plans to transform Gulf Place, the city’s most iconic stretch of beachfront and main public beach area.

The $15 million Gulf Place Revitalization Project is a linchpin objective of the Small Town, Big Beach Vision 2025 for Sustainability and the result of years of master planning and public input. The project will be completed in phases during the next few years and will employ sustainable, low impact designs to provide a more welcoming, accessible, pedestrian- and bike-friendly environment for residents and visitors to enjoy.

“This project will rejuvenate the face of our community and will provide enhanced opportunities to enjoy our entire half-mile of public beachfront year-round,” Mayor Robert Craft said. “We are excited to be able to make such a significant investment into the quality of life of our residents, the experience of our visitors and the future of Gulf Shores.”

Site preparation for Phase I improvements will begin Sept. 6 utilizing city staff and will be concentrated around the West Second Street parking lot and surrounding area. Bids for the construction of this $4.5 million portion of the project are being solicited through Sept. 20 and work is slated for completion by April 2017. Improvements for Phase I will include:

Enhanced and expanded public parking

20-foot wide beachfront boardwalk

Seating and shade structures

Renovated public restroom facilities

New Beach Safety Headquarters

Extensive natural/coastal landscape

The Gulf Shores public beach-front area at the terminus of Highway 59 and Beach Boulevard is one of the City’s most prominent locations and is the center of economic activity for the community.

The property currently offers a variety of activities that range from active to passive beach- and water-based recreation. The location is home to festivals and sports events, and provides access to dining, shopping, and other tourism-supported businesses.

Annual events at the public beach attract more than 350,000 visitors and generate an estimated regional economic impact exceeding $100 million.

Public access and pedestrian safety are critical to the economic success of the region moving forward. In an effort to activate, revitalize, and efficiently manage this important community resource the City has developed a master plan for redevelopment of the beach-front area known as “Gulf Place.”

The overall vision of this comprehensive plan is to develop the public beach area into a safe, accessible, family-friendly destination that serves different activities and acts as a catalyst for economic development.

The project will create public beach access areas with associated amenities and parking on the east and west sides of the city’s public beach area. Amenities will include a public boardwalk on the beachside of the parking areas and public green space, walking paths, shade structures, restrooms, and attractive landscaping. Sustainable and low-impact development strategies will be major components of the project, including on-site stormwater management and reuse.

Beach dune restoration will be incorporated into the design to provide habitat and protection from storm surge. The project will activate the downtown area through beach connectivity and preserve, enhance, and frame important views to the Gulf.

It will create public activity areas at the beach and provide a pedestrian-scaled environment that is safe and walkable.