Active Shooter Training for Gulf Shores City Schools

The Gulf Shores Police Department and Gulf Shores Fire Rescue recently conducted active shooter training at Gulf Shores City Schools. This training is designed to prepare crews for a real-life encounter with an active shooter. Our first responders are constantly working on new methods to ensure the safety of children and staff within our City Schools. 

Gulf Shores Finance & Administration Department Qualifies as a Triple Crown Winner by Receiving Three Awards from the Government Finance Officers Association 

The City of Gulf Shores is pleased to announce that the Finance & Administration Department has earned three awards from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), qualifying the City as a Triple Crown Winner for the first time. The three awards received are as follows:

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

For the 12th consecutive year, the City of Gulf Shores received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This award represents a significant achievement as it reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the City of Gulf Shores had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communications device. Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award.

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

This is the 10th year the City of Gulf Shores has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report. This Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR award)

This is the first year the City has been awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR award). The City was notified that the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) had substantially met the requirements of the PAFR Awards program. In order to be eligible for a PAFR award, a government must also submit its annual comprehensive financial reports to GFOA's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program and receive the Certificate for the current fiscal year. Each eligible report is reviewed by judges who evaluate the report based on the following categories: reader appeal, understandability, distribution methods, creativity, and other elements.

“It's not an accident that our City has an AA+ bond rating, it’s not an accident that we have seen an increase of over 300% in our cash reserves since 2010, and it's not an accident that as a City we continue to make responsible and effective budget decisions. It's a direct result of the hard work of our Finance & Administration Department, City Council Finance Committee, and all City Departments who diligently manage the budget on a daily basis, and we couldn't be more appreciative," said Mayor Robert Craft.

Click here to view current and past City of Gulf Shores annual budgets and financial reports. 

2022 Sunset Series Lineup Announced

Our Sunset Series concert series is returning to Gulf Place this September! These free concerts take place on the Town Green at Gulf Place – 101 Gulf Shores Pkwy. from 6-8 p.m., with live music overlooking our beautiful white-sand beaches at sunset. We invite you to bring your family, friends, and lawn chair and join us for these family-friendly concerts. 

2022 Sunset Series dates and lineup:

• September 1 - Royal Horses
• September 8 - Ever More nest
• September 22 - Early James
• September 29 - Frank Brown Songwriters Showcase

Sunset Series concerts are free to the public. Food trucks will be set up for those wishing to purchase food, and the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber will be onsite selling beverages for all ages to enjoy.

ClickClick herehere for more information.

Fall Youth Tennis Lessons offered at the George C. Meyer Tennis Center

The Gulf Shores Recreation Department is excited to announce the dates for their Fall Youth Tennis Sessions! These clinics are for children of all skill levels! Throughout the fall, four sessions are being offered. Each session consists of eight lessons taught by our Head Tennis Professional. 

Session Dates: 

1st. Session: August 1 - August 25

2nd. Session: August 29 - September 22

3rd. Session: September 26 - October 20

4th. Session: October 24 - November 17

The cost for each session is $160. For more information, call the George C. Meyer Tennis Center at 251-968-1431.

Click here to register your child today!

BYOB Mom & Son Brunch

The Gulf Shores Recreation Department is hosting a BYOB (Bring Your Own Boy) Mom & Son Brunch on Saturday, August 27, at 9:30 a.m. at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center. They have a lot of fun planned for moms and their favorite boys, including a live magic show by Illusionist Tom Coverly, games, and of course, brunch!

This program is for moms and their sons, ages 4-12. For additional information, call 251-968-9818. 

Click here to purchase your tickets.

Congratulations, Gulf Shores Baseball All-Star teams on a spectacular season!

Congratulations to all three Gulf Shores Baseball All-Star teams that qualified for the Alabama Cal Ripken All-Star tournament this summer!

The teams traveled to various complexes throughout the state to represent our Gulf Shores Dolphins. We are incredibly proud of the dedication and resilience these young players displayed throughout the season.

The 8U team, coached by Anthony Vaughn, finished third in district play and qualified for State in Daphne! The team fought hard against larger municipal teams and came up short, but these boys never quit and showed their love for the game in every play.

The 10U team, coached by Taylor Paris, won the championship for the warm-up tournament held in Grand Bay at the end of May! The team then moved on to district, where they finished second, allowing them to advance to the state tournament in Florence, AL. The boys went 1-1 on day one at state, and despite the grueling heat, they held their own throughout the tournament but came up short as they fought hard to make their way through the bracket.

The 12U team, coached by Jeff Goodman, finished as runner-up in the district championship game after battling hard against a strong Westside team. The second place finish automatically moved them onto the state tournament in Andalusia, AL. The boys played well and went 2-2 at state. Many of the players on this team finished their rec league careers on that diamond in Andalusia. We thank them for their dedication to Dolphin youth athletics and wish them the best of luck as they move on to represent the Gulf Shores Middle School Dolphins!

Local Ancient Canoe Canal article published in the Journal of Field Archaeology

Are you interested in the history of our area? Do you consider yourself an amateur archaeologist? If so, we have exciting news for you! An official study of a local ancient canoe canal began in 2017, and an article titled "History and Hydrology: Engineering Canoe Canals in the Estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico" featuring its findings was recently published in the Journal of Field Archaeology.

Click here to read the full article.

Gulf Shores Fire Rescue offering Public Education Courses

Gulf Shores Fire Rescue is offering a variety of public education courses through the American Heart Association. These courses range from basic First Aid training to more advanced classes such as Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Each class costs $26 and will take place at Gulf Shores Fire Station 1, located at 1921 West 1st. St. 

Courses offered by Gulf Shores Fire Rescue include:

• Heartsaver
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

"We encourage members of our community to take advantage of these courses," said GSFR Emergency Medical Services Officer Nick Russell. "Whether you need a specific course for your job, or you are looking for basic CPR training so you are prepared to act in the time of an emergency, we are offering a variety of classes to meet everyone's needs."

To sign up for a class, contact Gulf Shores Fire Station 1 at 251-968-7422.

Click here to view the course schedule.