Mayor Craig Ford outlines 2026 projects including athletic center, trails and major paving

Mayor Craig Ford used the mayor's minute to review 2025 and lay out a slate of capital projects and grants planned for 2026 in Gadsden City. "I can't say enough about what has gone on with 2025," Ford said, and he thanked city employees and residents for allowing the administration to move projects forward.

Ford highlighted several ongoing and upcoming infrastructure efforts. He said drainage and street work is underway at Lakewood Drive (behind Pruitt's) and in the riverside corridor, where crews are redoing road, sidewalk and drainage to reduce flooding for homes along the Coosa. On Agricola, he said "Agricola Drainage, the phase 2, is in construction and it should be complete in the next year," describing the work as needed to address dangerous flooding behind the Agricola Shopping Center.

The mayor said Adams Park drainage in East Gadsden was also addressed using ARP (COVID) funds carried forward from the prior administration to complete previously started projects. He described the Chestnut Tap program as a recurring sidewalk grant initiative, crediting city engineer Heath Williamson and grant writers Tina King and Ruth Moffitt for securing funds that pay only for ADA-accessible sidewalks.

Downtown and commercial improvements include upcoming street work on Walnut in front of the Catholic church and continued revitalization around Broad Street and the old federal courthouse. Ford said the new city hall will be ADA-compliant and is expected to bring renewed activity to the 100 block.

On parks and recreation, the administration plans to bid the East Gadsden community pool this month and to expand the Gas And Sports Park with a championship field, a second 25-yard turf field, and four additional pickleball courts overlooking the Coosa River. Ford said the city is partnering with Gadsden State Community College on a roughly $5,000,000 tennis project, with the city paying half and the college paying half to build 12 courts at the sports park entrance.

The mayor announced upgrades at the municipal golf course — lighting to enable night golf on the back nine and a clubhouse renovation that would include a simulator and instruction amenities — and said the Ritz Theater will receive funding for new sound, lighting, seating and curtains to support the performing arts.

Public-safety facility work includes plans to replace Fire Station Number 8 and later address North Gadsden and Central Station to improve training and water-rescue capacity. Ford also said bond proceeds will fund renovation of an East Gadsden police holding facility at the Weaver Technical School site.

Transportation priorities include a program of downtown signal changes to replace some lights with four-way stops and installation of raised speed bumps aimed at slowing traffic and reducing crashes. The mayor said paving is moving "90 to nothing" and named Riverside Drive, Tabor Road and portions of Forest Avenue among major roads slated for repaving next year, with neighborhood paving to continue.

Waterfront and trails projects are a focus: Ford confirmed Coosa Harbor is proceeding pending permits, with planned replacement and extension of downtown boardwalks to support new commercial tenants. He said the Veil to Trail project has its architect selected and will go to bid; the project is estimated at $6,000,000 and the city secured a $3,000,000 federal grant, with staff pursuing additional funding to connect trails across the city.

Ford closed by urging attendance at the State of the City address in February, saying more announcements will follow, and he wished residents a happy New Year.

What happens next: Most projects described are at design, bidding or early construction stages; the mayor identified funding sources such as ARP funds, bond proceeds and a federal trail grant, and said staff will continue grant applications and bidding processes.