ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — As the city of Robertsdale prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2021, the city is looking into long-range plans which will include moving the city’s utility barn and revamping Honeybee Park.

Architects Jason Shipp and Todd Stewart of Adams-Stewart met with Robertsdale City Council members during a work session on June 6 presenting five plan options.

“Obviously these are long-range plans for the future,” said city engineer Greg Smith following the meeting.

Plans call for the addition of parking, restructuring of sidewalks and landscaping of the park, along with the addition of central features, such as a pavilion and playground area.

“I think it’s important for us to add focal points to the park,” Stewart said.

One of the main features will be a 500-seat amphitheater which will be placed in the current location of the city’s utilities barn with plans to move the barn to property the city owns north of the Robertsdale Police Station on East Chicago Street.

“Our biggest expense in this will be moving and constructing a new utilities barn,” Smith said. Since the plans are currently in the preliminary stages, there is no word yet on how much the project will cost.

Each option included differences in layout and design and parts of multiple options will be put together to make a more definite plan, which will likely be presented to the council at its next meeting on July 5, officials said.

Officials also discussed the addition of restroom facilities and the possibility of closing off portions of streets, which can be used for additional parking.

“I’m excited about the work you put into this,” said council member Paul Hollingsworth, “and I’m excited to see where this is going from here.”

All council members were present for the June 6 meeting with Mayor Pro Tem Joe Kitchens presiding in the absence of Mayor Charles Murphy.

In other business June 6 the council:

• Approved the use of the city’s digital billboard to promote the Robertsdale High School cheerleaders’ mini-camp Aug. 1-3 in the gym at Robertsdale Elementary School. The annual camp is a fundraiser for the cheerleading squads, said Coach Tracy Robbins. Campers will participate in pre-game activities for the Golden Bears’ home opener football game Aug. 26 at J.D. Sellars Stadium.
• Tabled a request from the Gulf Coast Jeep Club to use Garrett Park for a jeep show in November.
• Approved an engineering contract with McFadden Engineering in the amount of $25,600 for the 2016 TAP Project for the construction of sidewalks along Krchak Lane and Palmer Street in Robertsdale. The total project will cost $495,000, Smith said.
• Approved a radio maintenance contract for the Robertsdale Volunteer Fire Department to use the county’s radio system at a cost of $10 per radio per month. Total cost for the contract is around $3,000 per year.