Img 5253 Scaled E1756225307553 — (City of Fairhope)

A project that has been in the works for over a decade has officially opened in Fairhope.

The city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony over the weekend to present Phase I of the Flying Creek Nature Preserve. The project will preserve 108 acres of natural land in Fairhope.

The first phase includes:

Multi-use nature trails
A connection to the Eastern Shore Trail
Outdoor classrooms
A trailhead with an informational kiosk
Bicycle repair station
Restroom pavilion
Eco-friendly parking area

“Saturday marked a milestone as we cut the ribbon on a project that has been in the works for over a decade. The City of Fairhope is in the midst of preserving 108 acres in the heart of Fairhope, which is now known as Flying Creek Nature Preserve. The first phase is complete, and we invite you to come explore the trails and enjoy the beauty of this newly preserved natural space.”
Flying Creek Nature Preserve

Flying Creek Nature Preserve

(City of Fairhope)
(City of Fairhope)
(City of Fairhope)
(City of Fairhope)
(City of Fairhope)

Hundreds of people attended the grand opening celebration for the preserve on Saturday, Aug. 23.

The city says its goal is to preserve, enhance and restore the 108-acre parcel of land between Veterans Boulevard and Fly Creek.Fairhope wants to honor the vision of its founders, setting aside the best land for public benefit.

All amenities have been integrated into the existing forest to minimize environmental impact.

A 7-acre section of the land is being restored as a longleaf pine forest, creating a specialized habitat for native wildlife and plants. The area includes cleared understory, newly planted pine saplings, and various native understory species.

An outdoor pavilion and bird blind provide peaceful observation and gathering spaces within the restoration area. The John Martin Nature Center is also in the preserve, providing a visitors center to enhance the experience.

This is only the first phase of a multi-phase project. The next phase is expect to include more multi-use trails and a direct connection to the Eastern Shore Trail from Daphne.