DAPHNE, Ala. — The construction of Baldwin County Bicentennial Park — which will commemorate the area’s 200th anniversary — will be the topic of a Wednesday discussion.

John Jackson, director of Baldwin County Department of Archives and History, and Nick Warren, special historic projects coordinator for the Archives and History department, will be the guest speakers of Jubilee Mornings, set for 10 a.m. at the Daphne Public Library.

The property—367 acres that include wetlands as well as hardwood/pine forest —is on the Highway 225 corridor near Stockton.

A list of some of the project’s plans is as follows.

“It’ll be country cuisine,” Jackson said. Pork dishes served with corn and beans will be the restaurant’s specialities.

Besides developing the park project, Jackson is  working on introducing historical archives into the department.

“We’re working with Baldwin County-produced documents,” Jackson said.

Such items include court documents that date back to 1810, and minutes of the Baldwin County Commission going back to 1860, according to Jackson.

He said the department has also been collecting supplemental materials from people who can elaborate on the county’s history.

Included is the Walter Overton art collection, from the artist noted for his “Southland Sketches,” which were watercolor paintings of the Gulf Coast.

The educational part of the project is intended for students to take field trips and learn firsthand about Baldwin County’s history and culture.

“This becomes attractive to other counties around us for educational opportunities,” Warren said.

Warren said the $6 million park — which developers expect will attract 300,000 visitors annually — should bring income into the county through trickle-down spending; that is, park tourists are expected to spend money on local lodging and restaurants. Also, the park is expected to offer many job opportunities.

“We’ll have the initial phase of the project finished by December 2009,” Jackson said, adding that the park should be completed within three to five years.

For questions concerning donations, contact Baldwin County Department of Archives and History at 580-1897.

For more information on the library presentation — to be held in the community room — contact the Daphne Public Library at 621-2818.