Northport Moves Ahead On Master Plans For Water Park/Sportsplex, Pedestrian Path Project

NORTHPORT, AL — The Northport City Council on Monday moved forward on two major recreational master plans, albeit in different stages, for a pair of highly-anticipated projects aimed at boosting the quality of life for area residents.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

The first of the two measures voted on during the regular meeting saw the city enter into a contract with TTL, Inc. to conduct a master plan for a proposed aquatics center and sports tournament facility that would be located on Rose Boulevard.

The cost of developing the master plan, as the contract is written, will not exceed $150,000.

The price tag for the construction remains the biggest uncertainty, as the complexity of the project makes it hard to home in on just exactly what city leaders would like to see.

TTL's pitch for the project said the location of serves as one of the "gateways" to Northport via the Rose Boulevard corridor and its proximity to U.S. Highway 82 and Interstate 59/20.

"The potential recommended elements are not defined at this point, but could vary and include day-use park activities, overnight accommodations, single event facilities, civic and corporate retreat infrastructure, recreational uses, and nature experiences," the design firm said.

In developing the master plan, TTL said the process may include public conventional public meetings or smaller informational settings around the community to gather feedback and answer questions.

City Administrator Glenda Webb instructed the Council ahead of Monday's meeting to be prepared to voice what they would like to see in regards to the project

"Dream big and let them see if it works on the property and they will help us know what is feasible because of the terrain and potential costs," she said on Monday.

City Engineer Tera Tubbs also explained that she has been working on a wish-list of amenities and offerings for the Rose Boulevard project, after receiving preliminary feedback from the Council's Recreation Committee.

"Some of it's not going to work on the property, some of it's going to be perfect," she said.

In September, Patch reported when the city purchased 151 acres off of Rose Boulevard previously owned by the Black Warrior Solid Waste Authority as the potential site for the project. The total cost of the land itself came out to roughly $700,000, with the money coming from revenue generated by the city's 1-cent sales tax.

The land is located in the area surrounding Tuscaloosa County's E911 operations center, which is positioned east of Rose Boulevard and west of 7oth Avenue in Northport.

Counsilman-Hunsaker, the firm hired by the city to conduct a feasibility study for the large-scale project, said its market research found the necessary demand to support a 5.5- to 8-acre outdoor water park, with a capacity of 500 people at one time.

Water park/sportsplex: by the numbers

*According to most recent feasibility study

• 1,200-1,500 visitors per day could be expected during peak summer months.
• 50,000 on admissions, plus another 1,700 for swim lesson visits over a period from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• 7,500-square-foot leisure pool with built-in amenities for a range of ages.
• 3,500-square-foot lazy river aimed at keeping visitors at the park longer.
• 2-3 customizable slides.
• Eight baseball/softball diamonds, concession stands, press boxes and other support buildings.
• An indoor facility was also recommended, which would include six basketball courts that could be converted into volleyball courts.
• The sports tournament facility would have an estimated 321,000 annual visits.

Click here to learn more about the Rose Boulevard project as work moves ahead on its recreational master plan.

Separately, the Council also unanimously approved to formally adopt a master plan by TTL for its Northern Bicycle and Pedestrian Project, with designs calling for approximately four miles of 12-foot wide shared use path along the northern corridor of the City of Northport.

The paths would also be complimented by state-of-the-art LED lighting to improve visibility and safety for those walking, running or biking.

Pedestrian & Bike Path Fast Facts

• In total, TTL anticipates the path project will cost approximately $14 million.
• The first phase will begin at the intersection of Frankie Thomas Trace and Rose Boulevard, following parallel to Rose Boulevard, Wildcat Drive, a future access road across the Sullivan property, U.S. Highway 43, and Mitt Lary Road to the intersection of Huntington Place Avenue and Mitt Lary Road.
• The second phase will begin at the intersection of Huntington Place Avenue and Mitt Lary Road, following parallel to Mitt Lary Road and Alabama Highway 69 to the Forest Glen subdivision.
• Another proposed phase of the Pedestrian Path plan now in the amended order will include a master plan for the Levee Trailhead, running east back to Kentuck Park, in addition to a path along the river to the south, then up to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Piggly Wiggly.

Click here to learn more about the path project and what it could mean for the northern part of the city.

The Northern master plan will now go to the area's Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for approval. The federal government mandates that every metropolitan statistical area with a population of 50,000 or greater have an MPO.

"The nice thing about this is it will allow us to apply for additional funds through the MPO and additional grant funds," Webb said.

What's more the City Council also approved contracting with TTL to conduct the master plan for the southern portion of the project, which will cost just north of $20,000 and was covered with leftover funds allocated for the Northern master plan. Funds for the master plans were covered under the city's capital plan.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com