On September 1, the Mobile City Council authorized a pursuit of $7.495 million in federal funding through the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program. This matching grant will fund Phase II of Brookley by the Bay. ORLP requires a dollar-for-dollar local match, so this push creates a $15 million investment package dedicated to expanding public access to Mobile Bay.
Phase II Expansion Plans
The proposed Phase II development focuses on building out the park’s recreational features and infrastructure, including:
- Entertainment: A brand-new outdoor amphitheater.
- Active Amenities: Restrooms, picnic shelters, and multiple pedestrian pathways.
- Park Infrastructure: A northern parking loop to specifically serve the amphitheater area and amenities along the main walking loop.
Synergy with Existing Funding
This new ORLP grant application builds directly upon recent funding wins for Phase I of the project:
- $9 Million GOMESA Grant: Awarded by Governor Kay Ivey, this non-matching funding supports the “Southern Activation Zone” (Phase 1b) to initiate construction on parking, play areas, and restrooms.
- $3.5 Million Infrastructure Grant: Previously approved to fund a one-mile access road, bike lanes, and pedestrian paths leading from Broad Street into the 98-acre park site.
