New $1 million, 2010 oil-spill-funded boardwalk opens at Mobile County's Bayfront Park
Posted on: May 8th, 2026 | AnnouncementsFeatured NewsPress Releases
Ribbon-cutting photo (L-R): Mobile County Commission President Connie Hudson, District 2; Commissioner Randall Dueitt, District 3; Charlie Gray, local representative to ADCNR’s Conservation Advisory Board; ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship; Dr. John Valentine, Dauphin Island Sea Lab; Jamie Miller, ADCNR; Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier, and Dr. Amy Hunter, ADCNR.
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — The Mobile County Commission celebrated the completion of a new 900-foot boardwalk Friday at Bayfront Park, marking another major Deepwater Horizon settlement investment in coastal restoration, outdoor recreation, and public accessibility along Mobile County’s waterfront.
The project adds 900 linear feet of elevated boardwalk, featuring two covered pavilions overlooking coastal marshland and completes a continuous half-mile paved and boardwalked ADA-accessible walking loop around the park.
Mobile County District 3 Commissioner Randall Dueitt thanked all project partners and staff, highlighting how the project enhances both quality of life and public access to one of the county’s unique natural environments.
“This project gives residents and visitors another way to experience the beauty of coastal Mobile County,” said Dueitt. “The 2010 oil spill was horrible for our area. I’m glad that the Mobile County Commission has been able to secure and use penalty dollars to enhance public access to the waterfront and marshlands.”
The boardwalk was designed as a walking and nature-viewing amenity and is not intended for fishing access.
Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said projects like the Bayfront Park boardwalk demonstrate the lasting impact restoration investments can have on public access and coastal communities.
“The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group of the Natural Resources Damage Assessment has focused on ensuring Deepwater Horizon restoration funds create long-term benefits for Alabama’s coast,” said Blankenship. “Projects like this restore public connections to coastal habitats, expand outdoor recreation opportunities, and help preserve these natural resources for future generations. As the Lead Trustee for Alabama, I am proud to partner with Mobile County Commissioner Randall Dueitt to complete the improvements to this great park.”
Commission President Connie Hudson also spoke to thank park staff, project partners, and especially Blankenship and Dueitt for their efforts and leadership on the project.
Construction took place from October 2025 through April 2026 at a cost of approximately $1 million. Including this project, Bayfront Park has received approximately $10.7 million in Deepwater Horizon oil spill restoration funding through the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group of the National Resource Damage Assessment program.
Engineering for the new Bayfront Park boardwalk was provided by Mott MacDonald, with construction by Blade Construction, LLC.
Mobile County’s Bayfront Park, 15961 Dauphin Island Parkway, Coden, AL 36523, is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. It is stop #46 on the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail, and Mobile County’s oldest park, created by a land donation from a railroad company in the 1920s.