Mobile's Newest Waterfront Park Opens
Jun 24th, 2010
The Alabama State Port Authority officially handed Mobile’s newest bay front park over to the City of Mobile at today’s 9:30 a.m. ceremony attended by community leaders and recreational enthusiasts. Arlington Park, located within the city limits on the western shore of Mobile Bay, will now join the city’s arsenal of waterfront parks.
“Arlington Park is absolutely breathtaking and its waterfront access will certainly be a positive addition to our Bay,” said Mobile Mayor Sam Jones. “We are so excited and grateful to the Port Authority for deeding such an asset to the citizens of Mobile.”
The Alabama State Port Authority initially conceived the park plan during the federal permitting process for the seaport’s Choctaw Point container and intermodal terminal project. To construct the container and intermodal terminals, the Authority had to mitigate for low quality wetland impacts associated with the project. The nearby shoreline provided an ideal spot for not only creating higher quality wetlands, but also to restore a former industrial site for public use. “We sought to create a waterfront attraction where old derelict tanks and foundations blocked the view of Mobile Bay,” said Jimmy Lyons, director and CEO for the Port Authority.
Arlington Park is comprised of 15 acres of upland recreational area that features a boardwalk and pier, one-mile hike / bike trail, picnic areas with grills, gazebos for group functions and a Welcome Center equipped with restroom facilities. The park’s pedestrian pier crosses 20 acres of wetlands to provide an unobstructed and closer view of the bay and many coastal birds that call the waterfront home.
“With the industrial growth at Brookley and the construction of the Maritime Museum on the Bay, this park will give the public a wonderful view and access to the water,” said Mobile City Councilman Jermaine Burrell, who represents the district where the park is located.
Another exciting feature at Arlington Park is the new kayak and canoe launch for non-motorized boaters. The launch, situated on the north end of the pier, provides an access point to the water, across Arlington Cove and ultimately out to Mobile Bay. “When we hosted public forums on the park’s amenities and design, we overwhelmingly heard from the kayaking and canoeing community. These are growing sports on Mobile Bay, and we thought, why not?,” noted Lyons. The public was involved in the area’s environmental revitalization since day one, including the naming of the future park. Arlington Park was the most popular name to surface due to the park’s proximity to Arlington Point, a well known geographic feature of Mobile Bay.
The Port Authority also constructed the park with a mind toward minimizing storm water impact to the bay. Incorporated into the park’s design is 12,500 square yards or 2.6 acres of pervious concrete poured at the park entrance, along the loop road and on the hike / bike trail. Pervious concrete is a environmentally friendly pavement type that allows storm water runoff, automotive oils and fluids, and other pollutants to penetrate into the concrete’s open pore structure during rainfall rather than run off the hard surface into storm drains and bay waters. The pavement’s lighter color also absorbs less heat from solar radiation than darker asphalt pavements, thus reducing heat island effects and making the park more enjoyable during the hotter summer months.
One last community goal attained at Arlington Park is realized through the partnership with the Wave. Wave Transit installed, at the Welcome Center, an automated ticket machine and an electronic variable message board that displays the Wave Transit schedule. The Authority sought the partnership with Wave Transit to encourage public transportation use and to set aside more land for recreation rather than parking. Arlington Park has 90 parking spaces available for patrons.
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