Beach Restoration in Gulf Shores has Officially Commenced!

Exciting News! The long-anticipated Beach Restoration Project is now officially underway. This vital initiative is geared towards mending the damage the City of Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park, and the City of Orange Beach sustained during Hurricane Nate and Hurricane Sally.

The project is expected to progress swiftly in Gulf Shores with minimal disruption. Crews will be hard at work 24/7, utilizing two dredging vessels for maximum efficiency. An impressive 18,500 cubic yards of sand will be restored to our beaches daily, equivalent to about 1,240 dump truck loads per day!

Project Schedule:

• October 20 – The contractor has already begun equipment mobilization at the beach, and you might have spotted pipes set up at various beach accesses.
• November 1 – Dredging commences east of Little Lagoon Pass, targeting the most eroded areas first
• November 27 – Dredging starts west of Little Lagoon Pass, extending to the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge. Concurrently, restoration efforts continue in beach areas east of Little Lagoon Pass, stretching to the Gulf State Park.
• January 1 – Dredging and restoration will be wrapped up within Gulf Shores City Limits.

Beach Closures & Accessibility Impacts:

• Crews will focus on sections of approximately 1,500 feet of beach at a time, temporarily closing these areas to the public for around 72 hours to ensure uninterrupted sand replenishment.
• Access to the beach will remain available in areas outside of immediate work zones and completed restoration areas. Ramps will be placed over the pipes to facilitate shoreline access.
• Public beach accesses will serve as construction access points and equipment storage throughout the project. Any closures will be communicated in advance.
• Starting November 1, blue accessibility maps will be temporarily removed from the beach and reinstalled after restoration is finalized.

Environmental Protection:

• Sea turtle monitoring and nest relocation have already been carried out.
• In-water trawling and continuous monitoring for sea turtles, manatees, gulf sturgeon, and other wildlife will continue throughout the project.
• Preserving dune vegetation is a priority, with additional dune vegetation being planted as part of the project.
• A critical part of this project will include rebuilding our dune system. Dunes will be rebuilt up to around 12 feet of elevation, with Approximately 500,000 plants and more than 3,000 feet of sand fencing installed along the dune system.

Additional updates will be sent to notify the public of project progress, access closures, or schedule changes. 



For more information regarding the Beach Restoration Project, please contact the Emergency Management Department at 251-968-2425.

Gulf Shores Appoints Jonathan Walker as City Administrator

Mayor Robert Craft and the Gulf Shores City Council proudly announce the appointment of Jonathan G. Walker as the new city administrator for the City of Gulf Shores.

Walker most recently served as city manager for Chamblee, Ga., and has 26 years of experience in budget management, community development, and city administration.

Click here to read the full announcement.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Mayor Robert Craft and City Council unanimously voted once again to approve renewing the City's annual agreement with AirMedCare Network to provide free air and ground ambulance service membership for all permanent residents of Gulf Shores.

This agreement provides guaranteed coverage for all permanent Gulf Shores residents living within corporate city limits who receive ground or air ambulance transport from any location in Baldwin County by an AirMedCare Network provider, which includes MedStar Ambulance and MedStar AirCare. The City of Gulf Shores started providing this benefit to its residents in 2019, making it the first community in America to provide both ground and air ambulance transport coverage for its residents.

What does this mean?

If a full-time resident living within Gulf Shores corporate limits receives emergency transport by an AirMedCare Network provider in Baldwin County, the cost of the transport over and above the patient's insurance benefit limit will be covered with no additional out-of-pocket expense. If a resident is uninsured during the transport, the providers will bill the covered person at the Medicare Allowable Rate for the transport.

No registration is necessary for this membership. Residents can upgrade their medical transport membership for coverage outside of Baldwin County at a discounted rate if they so choose.

If you would like more information about your current membership, have questions concerning an ambulance bill you have received, or would like to speak with someone about upgrading to a Full AirMedCare Network membership, please get in touch with the local representative Bill Gilmore, at william.gilmore@gmr.net.

Construction Progresses on the Highway 59 Expansion Project

Construction is moving along nicely on the Highway 59 expansion project. When complete, this project will add a third southbound lane from Coastal Gateway Boulevard (CR8) to Fort Morgan Road.

Currently, the contractor is working on finishing relocating utilities and stormwater pipe south of the bridge. Work on relocating utilities north of the bridge is expected to begin in November.

Please continue to use caution when workers are present and stay out of the areas blocked off for construction. We appreciate your patience as we continue improving our City’s infrastructure.

If you have any questions about this project, contact the City's Engineering Department at 251-968-2425.

Gulf Shores City Clerk Wanda Parris Honored for

36 Years of Service

Last week, Mayor Craft, Gulf Shores City Council, and past city officials surprised City Clerk Wanda Parris by congratulating her on her upcoming 36th anniversary working for the City of Gulf Shores.

Parris started her career with the City of Gulf Shores on November 5, 1987, with her first official title being Stenographer and Program Assistant. She quickly became the Secretary to the Mayor and the Recording Secretary for the Airport Authority, and on March 6, 1999, she was promoted to Assistant City Clerk. On April 19, 2010, she was appointed City Clerk, where she proudly still serves today.

As a token of appreciation, the City has dedicated its tenth Turtle Track monument in honor of Parris and her commitment to our community. The monument will be posted in front of City Hall later this year.

Thank you, Wanda, for your positive outlook, extraordinary integrity, and dedication for all these years. We appreciate all you do so very much!

Sea Turtle Released by Share the Beach in Gulf Shores

On October 24, Share the Beach coordinated the release of a recently rehabilitated adult loggerhead sea turtle back into the Gulf of Mexico in Gulf Shores.

The turtle was hooked about a month ago in front of Sea-n-Suds, and fortunately, through the dedicated education efforts of Share the Beach, someone knew to call and report her. X-rays showed that the turtle had not only one hook but four more hooks down her throat. The turtle was taken to The Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to undergo full rehabilitation and was released at the Wrecking Ball beach access on West Beach around 10:30 a.m.

We are so thankful for organizations like Share the Beach, who continue to make such a huge impact in protecting our sea turtle population. Congratulations to everyone involved in this great effort!

Watch a video of the release below!

Join us for the 2024 Winter Concert Series!

The City of Gulf Shores is excited to announce the 2024 Winter Concert Series lineup!

• Get Ready! – Jan, 29 & 30
• The Four Freshman - Feb. 5 & 6

Tickets for Get Ready! and the Four Freshmen are $35 and go on sale October 31. Shows begin at 7 p.m., and doors open at 6 p.m. Coffee and water will be offered at intermission.

• Sister Hazel – Feb. 15 & 16
• Paul Thorn – Feb. 22

Tickets for Sister Hazel and Paul Thorn are $35 and go on sale November 14. Shows begin at 7 p.m., and doors open at 5:30 p.m. A beverage tent will be onsite before and during the show.

All shows will be held at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center, located at 1930 West 2nd St. Individual tickets must be purchased to enter the venue.

Fans may purchase tickets in the following ways:

• Online at www.gulfshoresal.gov/winterconcertseries
• Gulf Shores City Store, located at 1821 Gulf Shores Pkwy.

For more information on the Winter Concert Series, please contact the Special Events Division at 251-968-1171 or visit www.gulfshoresal.gov/winterconcertseries.

Sign up for the Ironman Challenge!

The Gulf Shores Recreation Department is excited to host the Ironman Challenge! Starting November 8, participants will have 40 days to complete a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run/walk. Sign up now to take part in this FREE challenge!