Corridor Master Plan
As the City of Mobile’s coastal peninsula – surrounded on three sides by water; Mobile Bay to the east and Dog River to the west and south – how the quiet, wetland filled community of more than 11,000 people develops in the ensuing years is important.
In order to achieve economic redevelopment while preserving the quality of life for those who choose to live in the unique urban area, the Peninsula of Mobile Corridor Master Plan has been developed. With the ultimate goal of defining the peninsula portion of Dauphin Island Parkway as a passive recreation destination location offering a growing network of green and blue way trails, multiple water access points and quiet bird, boat or turtle watching, the Corridor Master Plan promotes Low Impact Redevelopment. It identifies seven (7) Development Centers along the five (5) mile stretch of State 163 to be redeveloped and offers strategies for implementation of the plan.
1.) D.I.P. Redevelopment Business District (Miracle Mile)
The “Miracle Mile” as it’s been dubbed, begins at Levene Road (near Gilliard Elementary School) and goes south to Cedar Park Drive (south of B.C. Rain High School). With the help of a Transportation Assistance Program grant (TAP) sidewalk improvements that included ADA compliance have made this area more easily traversed by all – walking or riding.
2.) Low Impact Developent Pilot Project
The 2017-2018 pilot project at Bay Furniture located at 3311 DIP, addressed ways to reduce stormwater runoff and increase curb appeal.
With the help of the former owner, the City of Mobile and ALDOT, engineering designs that included replacement of impervious asphalt with porous materials like tree-wells and grass strips were installed to allow more rainwater to soak into the ground instead of being carried unfiltered into nearby Perch Creek, part of the Dog River Watershed.
3.) Brookley Leg of the Crepe Myrtle Bike Trail
This long-term plan is part of an overall project to establish a connection of bike trails around the City of Mobile. It was born out of the Mobile Greenway Initiative, a large collaborative of non-profits including the Peninsula of Mobile that the City of Mobile took over in 2018.
Currently, this section proposed to hug the shoreline across Brookley and connect to the existing Crepe Myrtle Trail along Bay Front Rd. and south, is being considered by Mobile Airport Authority.
4.) The Crepe Myrtle Bike Trail
The Crepe Myrtle Bike Trail has been open along Mobile’s bay shoreline opened nearly a decade ago and is now one of the most desired local routes according to local riding clubs and cycling apps.
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This trail currently begins at Doyle Park and leads riders to Mobile Bay continuing south to just north of the Dog River Bridge. The recent (2019) reduction of lanes along DIP/State Rd. 163 from five-to-three along the last mile of the peninsula portion of Dauphin Island Parkway allowed for bike and pedestrian lanes to be added around Perch Creek making it safer for all users of the trail.
5.) The Dog River Loop of The Crepe Myrtle Bike Trail
The Dog River Loop of The Crepe Myrtle Bike Trail is a clearly signed roadside path that was designated by the City of Mobile in the summer of 2019. It brings cyclists north from the east bay-side of the Peninsula at the Dog River Bridge and brings them up the west side of the Peninsula, the river side.
6.) Perch Creek Nature Trail and Preserve
Currently in the planning phase via the City of Mobile’s Perch Creek Parks initiative, this public/private partnership project includes the preservation of hundreds of acres of wetlands in both the Dog River and Garrow’s Bend Watersheds.
This Peninsula of Mobile born project will provide an educationally signed, ADA compliant trail along environmentally sensitive footpaths- a great way to appreciate the unique natural beauty of our area.
There are many phases to the overall project. Many of the phases are being funded using BP Disaster, preservation restricted monies.