The Huntsville Planning Commission received a detailed look at the Big Spring Park East expansion at its meeting on Tuesday night.

Chad Bostick, principal at Bostick Landscape Architects, went over the artist renderings of the expansion with commission members before they approved the character, extent and location of the addition, which is on the site of the former City Hall at 308 Fountain Circle. The park is expanding by 2.4 acres. The expansion includes the grassy slope near the AT&T building that was the former home of the City Hall Annex.

Current plans call for an upper plaza with a pavilion with additional trees to be planted. It will also include a much-needed restroom facility. The city had a fountain designer helping with plans for a water feature.

Residents will be able to use the pavilion approximately 10 months out of a year, city officials said at a previous commission meeting.

“The pavilion itself will have garage doors and would be intended to be open during the day for public access and use,” said Bostick, whose company has a contract with the city to design the expansion. “It has the potential that is the same for other pavilions in other city parks where it can be reserved for events.”

A lower plaza area will be elevated above the existing Big Spring Park East. It will have built in seating with tables and chairs for chess and lunch space, Bostick said.

“It will eventually have a few more trees in that area that connects with Big Spring East,” he told the commission. Bostick said the addition will include a playground with a more “naturalistic” look.

“It fits more in the context of Big Spring,” he said.

The expansion does not come without challenges. It will be an elevated portion of the park. The city is designing American with Disabilities Act-compliant switchback trails that will include concrete seating and new landscaping.

A winding path similar to San Francisco’s Lombard Street will provide ADA connection from Church Street to Fountain Circle at the south end of the park that will also integrate public art.

“It really works to tie in the art in City Hall all the way down to the art museum as it falls down onto Church Street,” Bostick said.

Huntsville City Councilwoman Jennie Robinson, who is a member of the planning commission, called the drawings something concrete she could show residents and said it was a more detailed look than what has been shown at City Council meetings.

Bids are expected to be let for the park expansion in July with construction beginning soon after. It will take about 12 to 14 months to complete.

“As our downtown thrives, so does the need for recreational spaces,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “This property presents an opportunity to expand Big Spring Park, solidifying its position as a cherished community landmark. By enlarging the footprint, we provide an even larger public space for everyone to enjoy.”

Other commission action

• The commission approved the character, location and extent of the parking lot expansion at Huntsville International Airport. The airport is expanding its parking deck. The project includes moving the entrance plaza.
• A Residence 2 zoning district was approved for a recently annexed 27.61 acre site west of Old Big Cove Road and north of Buford Drive. The annexation came at the request of Louis Breland, the founder of Breland Properties and Breland Homes. Breland is the developer of Town Madison and Clift Farm. Single-family homes will be developed on the annexed property.
• The commission granted final approval for the 44-lot third phase of the Nursery at Blue Spring subdivision. Stanley Developer, LLC, is the developer. Mullins, LLC, is the engineer for the site south of Winchester Road and west of Blue Spring Road.
• The 38-lot third phase of Sequoyah Cove also received final approval. It is located west of Old Big Cove and north of Knotty Walls Road. Anslem Developing, LLC, is the developer. Stratanova Engineering is also involved with the project.
• The commission also approved 73 lots in the first phase of the Southpointe subdivision being developed by Concord Land Development. Mullins, LLC, is the engineer. The subdivision is north of Hobbs Island Road and west of Hegia Burrow Road.
• The 174-unit third phase of Locust Grove apartments received final boundary plat approval. It is located south of Winchester Road and west of Blue Spring Road. Dixie Nell and Laddy B. Ratliff are the developers. Halliburton Surveying & Mapping, LLC, is the engineer.