Matthew Jones, a parks department presenter, told Mobile County commissioners that the county has undertaken a multi-year rebuilding effort and is now moving from construction to programming and operations.

"Over the past 5 years, this commission has invested $51,200,000 into totally rebuilding the county park system and growing the county park system through acquisitions," Jones said, adding that when facilities such as the Mobile County Aquatic Center, the Sportsplex and the Cypress Creek Golf Course are included the total investment rises to about $125,000,000.

Jones said the closures required for construction have ended and the parks have reopened to strong public use. He outlined completed and in-progress work at Chickasabug Park ($14,000,000 in improvements including a splash pad, expanded courts, pavilion and rebuilt RV campground), Escatapa Hollow Park and Campground (reopened Aug. 2023 after roughly $14.5 million in work, including a 32-space RV campground, river access and a new restaurant and interpretive center) and Bayfront Park (reopened March 2025 with a roughly 900-foot pocket beach, a new playground and an upgraded restroom/office facility; a longer boardwalk is under construction).

Beyond capital work, Jones said the department has focused on staff and procedures: implementing a cashless reservation system using Firefly and RecDesk, introducing clearer duties and accountability, and advancing internal reporting. He said the department will introduce quarterly reports and a professionally printed annual report that compiles park usage data and events.

To support programming, Jones asked the commission to adopt the fiscal-year 2026 park calendar and to approve a special-event permit and fee schedule that would allow outside organizations to request and host county-sanctioned events. He also announced a county-planned fall festival on Nov. 15 at Bayfront Park and Escatapa Hollow Park and Campground.

Commissioners responded with praise for staff and emphasized the cross-department teamwork and partnership funding (county, state and federal) that supported the projects. No formal vote was recorded in the conference meeting; the calendar and permit were listed on the agenda for approval at the Nov. 10 regular meeting.