05/16/2026
CITY SEEKS $15M FOR BROOKLEY PARK
A $15 million grant request tied to the future Brookley by the Bay waterfront park is set to be introduced during the Tuesday, May 19 meeting of the Mobile City Council.
The proposed resolution would authorize Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis to apply for, accept and receive funding through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, commonly known as GOMESA, for Phase I of the Brookley by the Bay project. The grant would not require a local funding match.
According to agenda documents, the funding would support construction of the “Southern Activation Zone” at the 98-acre waterfront property along Mobile Bay. The city acquired the site in 2020 as part of an effort to improve public access to the shoreline and reconnect residents with the bay.
City officials said the project vision was developed during a six-month public engagement process involving community members, stakeholders and partner organizations. The city has completed design and engineering work for the first phase and now has shovel-ready construction documents prepared.
If approved, the grant funding would help build a series of recreational and waterfront features planned for the southern portion of the park. Proposed amenities include ADA-compliant destination play areas, an environmental-themed playground, sensory gardens, treetop play structures and a water play area featuring interactive elements such as spray hoppers, flow tables and seesaw pumps.
The shoreline portion of the project would include a kayak launch with pavilion and drop-off area, ADA-accessible beach boardwalks, beach volleyball courts, a fenced dog run, picnic shelters, walking paths and restroom facilities. Plans also call for a championship disc golf course and a “Sunrise Lawn” gathering space.
Jennifer Greene, director of programs and projects for the city’s Public Works Department, said the overall vision for Brookley by the Bay is designed to reconnect residents with the waterfront while preserving and enhancing the site’s natural ecosystems.
“Brookley by the Bay will offer places for people to reconnect with the water’s edge and immerse themselves within the rich, biodiverse ecosystems that define the region,” Greene said in supporting documents submitted with the resolution.
The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 distributes a portion of federal offshore oil and gas revenues to Gulf Coast states and coastal communities for projects involving coastal restoration, conservation, hurricane protection and infrastructure improvements.
