Plans are progressing to develop a city park in the Mills community and expand the area’s pedestrian access through new walkways. The Foley City Council has approved hiring Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to create a master plan for the park, following the annexation of Mills into Foley in 2023. Community input has played a central role in the project’s design.

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Mayor Ralph Hellmich said Foley officials have been working on plans for the park since Mills residents voted to be annexed into the city in 2023.

“We bought the property for the new park,” Hellmich said. “We have cleared the property. The design of the park is under progress. We've had several community meetings out there so they could provide input.”

David Thompson, Foley executive director for leisure services, said the city has been working with residents to develop ideas for the park.

“We worked with the Mills Community organization,” Thompson said. “They're very happy about what we've proposed.”

He said the completed design will include ideas from the discussions with community members.

Hellmich said the city is also working to build new sidewalks in Mills. The sidewalks are part of a citywide plan to extend walkways around Foley.

“It's a sidewalk project in that community to make sure they're tied back into Foley,” he said “We’re working toward having all of our neighborhoods tied in.”

The city approved $1 million for sidewalks in the budget year that ended Sept. 30. The budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 also includes $1 million for sidewalk construction.

Walkways in Mills would extend pedestrian access along Fern Avenue to the sidewalk system now under construction on Cedar Street.

The sidewalks will also link Peachtree Avenue and then go east to Juniper Street and then south.

The city has also been awarded a state Transportation Alternatives Program grant of $800,000 to extend sidewalks on Alabama 59.