When you think of the number of athletes and residents played their first baseball or softball game you would surely have memories of Mel Roberts Park. Before the new sports complex was built on Hwy. 98 West, this was the location for local athletes to gather.

Today, Melvin Roberts Park offers a range of recreational amenities, including baseball fields, six lighted tennis courts, a basketball court, a covered pavilion, playground equipment, and a nature trail that features a pond and gazebo.

The City of Foley is moving forward with additional enhancements at Mel Roberts Park. The park, located on Cedar Street, will see a second round of upgrades paid for by savings from a previous project. The Foley City Council approved the new phase during a recent meeting. City officials say this work is scheduled to begin in August.

The first phase of the improvements at the park was finished in July 2024. It included upgrades like new lighting for the ball fields, new restrooms, a concession stand, and scoreboards. That project came in under budget, which left funds available for additional improvements.

Jeff Lee, director of Foley’s Parks and Recreation Department, said the leftover money will help pay for the next round of upgrades. These include adding irrigation systems, laying down new sod on three ball fields, and building a barn to store maintenance equipment.

Fencing and backstop netting at the park will also be replaced as part of the upcoming work. The improvements are aimed at making the park better for players, visitors, and maintenance crews.

The new project is set to begin in August, with work expected to continue until all upgrades are complete. The improvements will help keep Mel Roberts Park one of Foley’s top recreational spots.

In October 2023, Foley earmarked approximately $1.5 million for major enhancements at Mel Roberts Park, including LED ball field lighting, prefabricated restroom and concession buildings, tennis courts and a nature trail. In recent weeks, the city earmarked an additional $295,000 in leftover capital funds for this second phase to cover irrigation, sod installation, a new equipment barn, and fencing work.

This push builds on Foley’s broader efforts to enhance local parks and sidewalks. A recent project extended sidewalks north along Cedar Street from Mel Roberts Park to Fern Avenue, funded by a $1 million municipal sidewalk budget. These infrastructure investments aim to improve accessibility and connectivity around the park and throughout Foley.