City approves request for 'pop-up picnics'

Some residents concerned over parking at waterfront Fairhope park

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FAIRHOPE – A company’s plan to provide “pop-up picnics” at Magnolia Beach Park met with city approval, but some residents were concerned about issues such as parking at the bayfront site.

The Fairhope City Council voted Monday, Aug. 23, to approve the request by the Southern Charm Picnic Company to provide pop-up picnics at the site on South Mobile Street. Under the agreement, the company would cater picnics at the park overlooking Mobile Bay.

South Mobile Street resident Emily Johnson said other sites would be better suited for the picnics.

“I feel that this is highly inappropriate,” she told council members. “That it would be better serviced to be used at South Park. We do not have adequate parking. We do not have any bathroom facilities. If it starts raining, there is no place for people to go, but mostly there is no adequate parking.”

She said the park is already filled with people and people often park in front of her home. She said she also worried that allowing the picnics would set a precedent for other companies to use the site.

Council President Jack Burrell said he had received a call from another resident who was also concerned about the effect of the business on the community.

Paige Crawford, city community development director, said the park is the best site for the proposed business.

“I definitely think there are some concerns with the parking situation at the Utopia Park or Magnolia Beach Park, the dolphin structure. However, this park was ideal in the selection of where we did choose for these pop-up picnics to be located,” Crawford said.

She said other city parks can be rented by private groups.

“As far as rental goes, we do rent the South Beach Park. We do rent the Henry George Park and the North Beach Pavilion. So, ideally, we wanted the franchise agreement to be in a location that isn’t a rentable space for the city,” Crawford said.

She said the picnic plan should not add to parking or crowding at the park.

“I don’t think the intention for this is to be something that is ongoing all the time. I think it’s kind of a boutique small, concierge service. I’m not thinking it’s going to be for gigantic parties. I think it’s two to four people, maybe six people to have a picnic on the bluff,” she said. “There are some concerns with parking, but I don’t foresee that being a huge issue.”

Burrell said the franchise agreement does not give the company the right to take over a portion of the park or to exclude other members of the public from the site or from parking.

“Simply stating the obvious is that this does not give you any right to preferred parking. You can’t block the public’s spaces for your use even though you have four or five people coming to one of your pop-up picnics,” Burrell said. “We need to explicitly state that.”

He said the city’s current restrictions on alcohol use and noise restrictions will also continue to apply.

Councilman Jimmy Conyers said the company will be providing a service to clients, but will be exercising the same rights that the public has to the park.

“It’s still a first come, first serve basis,” Conyers said. “Really, what you’re paying for with this service is you’re paying for someone to do the leg work, set it all up for you and probably make it a lot fancier.”