The City of Mobile's Brookley by the Bay dreams will soon become reality. Today, the city unveiled its final master plan for the new 98 acre waterfront park, for everyone to see. They have a lot of exciting things planned! With amenities like an amphitheater, boardwalks, picnic, and sand volleyball areas, walking trails and even a kayak launch, having something for everybody.
"A lot of different specialty groups came out for cross country track and field, we've had the pickleball people, frisbee golf, the bikers the runners - we want to make sure we incorporate everyone," says Shonda Smith, Deputy Executive Director of Public Works.
Smith says this is the largest community turnout for a park that the city has ever had. Folks in attendance tell me they're all for this master plan.
"The diversity of the wildlife that's being presented and it's sensitively designed around is important and also the picnic shelters and the flex spaces I could see where it could be really welcoming for all of Mobile," says Walter Reinhaus, a kayaker.
Officials say with the new park they hope to bring people to the water’s edge, establish a connected site, create a vibrant gathering place for all, enhance habitat resilience, design an adaptive, enduring place for future generations. Will be a part of Brookley by the Bay. Two Mobile natives say this could be a game changer for the city.
"I'm most excited about the amphitheater area since it's going to be an area where they can have concerts and stuff like that just brings a little more entertainment to the city," says Brian Jackson.
"It's going to be inclusive you know you'll be able to have the people that's handicap and all demographics of life you know they'll be able to come as well," says Joyce Murphy.
Our investigation in September found that the location where the park will be, housed the former Brookley Air Force Base and a shooting range. The investigation revealed that the ammunition used had a lead core contaminating the area.
In September Mayor Stimpson told us quote "I can assure you that we're not going to go forward with any part of the park where our citizens will be out there playing or recreating, that's going to be dangerous." A spokesperson from the city told me today the Mayor’s words still hold true, and they are monitoring it closely.
No timeline or budget just yet, but officials say they expect this project to cost over 20 million dollars.