FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2026
Contact: Paige Crawford, paige.crawford@fairhopeal.gov
251-929-1466

City of Fairhope to Rededicate Fairhope Municipal Pier, South Beach, Rose Garden and Fountain

Fairhope, AL — The City of Fairhope will host a public rededication of the Fairhope Municipal Pier, South Beach, Rose Garden, and Fountain on Thursday, March 26 at 4:00 p.m. at the pier.

The event marks the completion of nearly $10 million in improvements to the waterfront, funded in part through the RESTORE Act, a federal program established following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to support Gulf Coast restoration, economic development, and tourism.

Originally constructed in 1895 and rebuilt in 1968, the pier has long served as a central gathering place for the community. After sustaining damage from multiple storms, including Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, Sally, and Zeta, the pier and surrounding park have undergone significant renovations, with the latest upgrades completed in 2025.

The project focused on improving safety, accessibility, and long-term resiliency of the 10-acre waterfront park. Key upgrades include bulkhead and seawall repairs, improved pedestrian access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, enhancements to the pier, and upgrades to the fountain and public facilities.

The ceremony will also recognize the legacy of Fairhope’s beautification program and the leadership of Timothy M. Kant, who was hired in 1983 as the city’s first horticulturist and went on to build and expand the program. His work helped establish Fairhope as a Tree City USA community and led to the development of signature landscapes throughout the city, including the pier’s rose garden, which featured more than 1,000 rose bushes across 41 varieties.

As part of the ceremony, the rose garden and fountain will be formally named in Kant’s honor, recognizing his decades of service to Fairhope both as horticulturist and later as mayor.

“The Fairhope waterfront is central to our identity as a community,” said Mayor Sullivan. “This rededication honors our past while celebrating continued investment in a space that brings people together. It also gives us an opportunity to recognize former Mayor Tim Kant and all his efforts to create the beautiful Fairhope we know today.”

The event is open to the public.

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