Orange Beach Moves Forward with New Pickleball Complex and Road Upgrades
John Mullen • March 18, 2025
Multi-family housing projects could face a nine-month pause

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach is moving forward with plans to build a pickleball complex on the city’s recreation campus and will discuss awarding the bid during a joint regular/work session on March 18 at 5 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.
Included in the project are the courts, restrooms and roadway and parking lot improvements. In line for the bid is Green-Simmons for $2.7 million.
During the regular session, the council will also discuss:
- Appointing a voting delegate to the Alabama League of Municipalities convention and the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp.’s annual meeting May 10-13.
- A resolution to establish fees for the Orange Beach Sportsplex field rentals.
- Authorizing an agreement with South Alabama to provide weather information services by the USA Coastal Weather Research Center for $3,000 annually.
- Authorizing the mayor to purchase, surplus and transfer of land parcels to widen Russian Road near the city’s shooting range.
- A resolution for a contract with Thompson Engineering for professional services to help with transportation, traffic and other engineering services.
- Authorizing a contract with Deckard Technologies to monitor and identify short-term rentals in Orange Beach.
- A resolution for a contract with McLean Motor Sports Productions for the spring Bama Coast Cruisin’ spring event.
- A franchise renewal for Coastal Express Shuttle to continue taxi services in Orange Beach.
- Awarding Mobile Forest Products & Biomass an annual bid for grinding vegetative debris.
- Awarding a bid for a blower package for the Utilities Department to Jim House & Associates for $188,850.
- Awarding the bid for the annual roadway resurfacing to Arrington Curb & Excavation for $430,395.
- An ordinance change in the section dealing with “noises prohibited.”
- Amending an ordinance to add vaping to the definition of smoking and to prohibit tobacco and nicotine vending machines.
- Imposing a moratorium on approving multi-family residential projects and subdivisions in the city for nine months “to prevent conditions that may threaten the community’s health, safety, and general welfare.”
During the work session, the council will discuss:
- Approving expenses for goods and services from March 13-19 for $753,853.
- Lighting upgrades at the Orange Beach Sportsplex and discussing a contract with Musco for $52,500.
- An ordinance prohibiting commercial activity on beaches and waterways.
- Reappointing Shannon Robinson to the Orange Beach Board of Education.
- A contract with Adams and Reese for lobbying services during the regular and special legislative sessions at the state and federal levels.
- Authorizing contracts with Grace Stanton to direct a performance of “Lion King Jr.” and Lauren McCaghren for dance instruction for the play.
- Authorizing a franchise agreement with Waste Pro of Florida operating in the city to remove commercial waste and construction demolitions.
- Authorizing a franchise agreement with Flora-Bama S.A.L.T.S. to operate a taxi service in Orange Beach.
- A resolution amending the fee schedule at the Orange Beach Golf Center and adopting operational policies for the center.
- Setting a public hearing date to modify the Village of Tannin planned use development to change lot one from a special purpose or firehouse to single-family residential. April 4 15 is the suggested date.
Share this article w/ Friends...

Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores police officers arrested eight people Wednesday after an armed robbery at a home in the 5500 block of Lemon Tree Lane. The suspects—six adults and two juvenile males—face multiple felony charges. Officers located the suspect vehicle within one minute of responding to the call. N

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach City Schools invites students, staff, and the community to celebrate the start of the school year at the annual Makos on Main Parade. The event will be held at The Wharf in Orange Beach and is free and open to the public. Students from Pre-K through 12th grade will march toget

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — An Orange Beach resident, Maria Hawkins, found more than she expected while checking their property Wednesday morning after Tropical Storm Bertha. A boat had washed up near their dock overnight. Hawkins spotted it after waking up and stepping outside to survey the damage. What followed was

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — NOAA Fisheries is inviting the public to weigh in on a proposed rule that would reduce the annual catch limit for Gulf Spanish mackerel. The proposed change is part of Framework Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf and Atlantic Reg

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Tropical Storm Bertha, the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, was located due south of Dauphin Island and just southwest of Orange Beach as of 4 a.m. CDT this morning. The NWS National Hurricane Center in Miami issued Advisory 12, placing the storm's center near lati

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Watching a cluster of balloons drift over the Gulf may feel like a fitting tribute or a joyful celebration, but researchers say the practice causes lasting harm to wildlife and the environment. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System published a report, warning that every balloon released

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Tropical Storm Bertha was about 175 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, as of 7 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued Intermediate Advisory 8A at that time, placing the storm's center near latitude 28.8 North, longitude 86.2 West. Maximum sustain

Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — An Elberta woman has been named the American Legion Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year for the State of Alabama. Judi Wheat received the honor at a recent district meeting at American Legion Post 99 in Foley. Alabama State American Legion Auxiliary President Carla Biniecki presented the award. Famil

Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Foley has lowered the speed limit on Irwin Street to improve access for low-speed vehicles. The Foley City Council gave final approval to an ordinance implementing the change. The new limit is 35 miles per hour, down from 40 miles per hour. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the lower limit wi


