Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores is making moves to begin the development of a new nature park area on Little Lagoon called Laguna Cove. A federal grant helped fund the purchase of land to create a nature area for public use. The city council is considering a contract to begin site work on the parcel.

The council will meet in the first work session of 2026 on Jan. 5 at 4 p.m. in council chambers in City Hall.

Officials opened bids on the project on Dec. 9, and Asphalt Services won the job with a $2.6 million bid. The city had $2 million budgeted for the project in 2025 and will cover the rest from the 2026 budget.

“Gulf Shores received a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) grant from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) in 2017 to acquire a 53-acre tract of land formerly known as the Laguna Cove development,” a memo from Construction Manager Clint Colvin states. “The NRDA grant also stipulated the City must conserve and restore the natural resources of the property and provide passive outdoor recreation.”

Included in the project are:

•  Protection and restoration of critical habitat and wetlands
•  Public restrooms
• Low-impact public parking
•  Passive recreation opportunities such as kayaking, birding, and interpretive boardwalks 
• Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood provided the professional services and design work for this project.

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• An ordinance change to add two members to the Gulf Shores Airport Authority for a total of seven.
• Allowing golf carts in Cotton Bay Subdivision with the streets including Cotton Bay Boulevard, Savannah Lane, Plantation Lane, Cotton Bay Lane, Cotton Bay Court, Cotton Bay Drive West, and Cotton Bay Drive East.
• Renewal of taxi franchises for 13 companies to operate in Gulf Shores.  See the list here.
• An ordinance to require properties being considered for annexation in the city to complete a pre-zoning process. This would not apply to existing single-family uses.
•  A request to annex .70 acres at 6951 Grund Lane into the city. The property is currently developed with a mobile home.
• A request to annex an area known as Riviera Plaza. The links to the details for the items on the meeting agenda were invalid.