GULF SHORES, Ala. — Lagoon Park Public Boat Launch will officially open this weekend adding to city of Gulf Shores public facilities.

“Our goal was to provide a free access to Little Lagoon for those who would like to picnic, fish or boat,” Public Works director Mark Acreman said. “We know the boating community is already using it.”

The new launch is the only public direct access to Little Lagoon; it sits on property that was purchased for $3.5 million by the city.

Construction and design cost $680,000 and the city used local companies like Gates Construction to do the work. Six months of construction has led to this week’s opening.

Two boat launches, bathroom facilities, three piers and ample parking for vehicles and trailers can all be found at the new property that was once known as Mo’s Landing.

The site will always be open, and lighting is offered to add a level of security for those boating at night.

“This is the only boat launch available to the public for Little Lagoon and it will provide the citizens a location where they can remove their boats if there is inclement weather,” Acreman said. “A lot of people have boats at their residence but they do not have a way to get it out. This way we have a launch that’s always guaranteed to be open.”

Councilman Joe Garris said he’s received a lot of positive feedback from boaters.

“Everybody enjoys it,” Garris said.

Unique to the project was the money saving scheme the city used to remove the pre-existing boat launch.

“We inventoried what was still there, put that on the Internet and we auctioned off the building and structure which we would have had to pay somebody to remove,” Acreman said.

The city also auctioned off what materials remained at the landing on the Web site ebay.

The city received $3,000 for the scrapped building and avoided an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 charge to remove those materials from the site.

Acreman said incorporating pervious parking for a city facility was a first.

“All of the parking is gravel with a filter blanket under it,” Acreman said.

Water runoff will percolate into the soil and a detention pond will gather any excess.

The grassy patch that will develop will help filter any oils or negative fluids before it reaches the lagoon.

“Knowing that Little Lagoon has always been an environmentally sensitive area we’ve tried to do everything we can to make sure we are not going to do anything that has a negative impact on the lagoon,” Acreman said.

Monofilament recycling bins will also be installed to keep loose fishing line out of the water and away from marine life.

Future plans include landscaping, a sign and picnic area.