DAPHNE, Ala.—The city of Daphne has not set an official date for the May Day Park boat ramp launch party and ramp dedication event, but there is discussion of having the event in the spring to coincide with a series of outdoor concerts.

“We’ve got a set of three concerts scheduled for Bayfront (Park) and May Day (Park) in the spring,” Daphne Recreation Director David McKelroy said. “We’re calling it the ‘Daphne Sunday Sunset Series.’ That’s going to take the place of ‘Music under the Stars.’”

McKelroy said the concerts used to happen on Saturday and Sunday nights in the spring, but now there is talk of having three concerts on Sunday nights spread throughout March, April and May.

McKelroy said the official May Day Park boat-ramp launch party and ramp dedication could happen on one of the Sunday concerts.

“We haven’t talked about it, but that would be a logical choice: to move it to the spring,” McKelroy said. “I’m sure we’re going to dedicate it sometime, but that would be the most logical choice, when there’s a little nicer weather.”

The city planned the boat-launch grand opening event on Oct. 24, with a band playing, but bad weather postponed the event until a later date.

The park closed in February when construction of the new boat-launch site began — and when the park received several improvements such as new play-area equipment. The park was re-opened in May but the boat launch did not officially open until Oct. 1.

The construction of the new boat launch cost the city approximately $700,000, according to City Clerk David Cohen.

The city received the Wallace-Braeu Sports Fishing Foundation grant for more than $455,000, which covered more than half the cost of the project. The rest of the costs were paid through the lodging tax revenue the city incurs, according to Cohen.

The city also plans to dedicate the boat ramp to Victor Guarisco, a former Daphne mayor.