Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley city leaders are advancing plans for further enhancements to a public parking lot in the heart of downtown. The City Council recently approved the project to accommodate the increasing number of visitors and shoppers. The work will include resurfacing the current parking lot to enhance safety and usability. Officials aim to provide everyone visiting downtown Foley with a dependable parking option.

The city initially voted in April 2025 to purchase the primary site to ensure public access. Since that purchase, several updates have already been made on the grounds. Now that the busy holiday season is over, the city is ready to move forward with the next phase of the project.

City Engineer Taylor Davis explained that the upcoming work won't be limited to just one location. The project involves two adjacent public lots serving the downtown community. One lot is south of the Holmes Medical Museum, and the other is near the Planning Development Services Building.

The larger of the two lots is the one the city officially bought last year. It is just south of the old Wright’s Drug Store and the local medical museum. For several years before the sale, the city actually leased this specific area for public use.

“The larger lot is the lot that the city bought last year, that's just south of the Holmes Medical Museum and the old Wright’s Drug Store,” Davis said. This area is a central hub for people visiting local historical sites and shops.

Davis also mentioned that the construction was scheduled to avoid the busiest times of the year. “Now that we're past the holidays and holiday events, we’re ready to go and pave that, and the smaller lot immediately north of the Planning Development Services Building. We’ll pave that one as well.”

The scope of work is extensive for the 2,300-square-yard parking area. Crews will resurface the ground and apply new striping for the parking spots. They will also install concrete curb stops to help keep vehicles organized and safe.

In addition to the pavement work, the city is improving the area's appearance and usability. New trees, flower beds, and shrubs are being planted along Alabama 59 to enhance the streetscape. These plantings will make the downtown walk more enjoyable for pedestrians.

Environmental considerations are also a key focus of the new parking lot design. The city intends to improve drainage in the area to minimize water runoff. These updates will help protect the local environment while enhancing the overall functionality of the lots.

Previous improvements have already changed the site's appearance since the city took ownership. For example, islands were placed in the parking area to help direct traffic and add greenery. These small changes are part of a much larger plan for the city.

The main goal of this investment is to support the continued growth of local downtown businesses. By providing convenient, accessible parking, the city aims to attract more customers and visitors. This also helps the many employees who work in the downtown Foley area.

Foley is located at the busy intersection of U.S. 98 and Alabama 59. This makes the parking lot a vital part of the city's infrastructure and tourism. Updating these lots helps the city maintain its ongoing success.

The city will soon open bidding to find a contractor for the resurfacing project. This process ensures the city receives a fair price for the high-quality improvements. Once a bid is awarded, the physical work on the pavement can start.