Alabama’s state track meet brought in $3.4 million in economic impact to Gulf Shores last year. It only costs the city around $40,000 to put on.

The economic windfall is something Fairhope city officials are looking at with great interest. The city council recently OK’d spending $2.48 million, double the $1.2 million originally estimated, on a new competition track at Founders Park adjacent to Fairhope High School.

The council awarded the construction contract to McEhlenney Construction Company of Mobile. The new eight-lane competition track is expected to be under construction by next month, and is expected to be completed in six months.

“The impetus is to get something that fulfills the requirements we can use to host track and field meets,” said Council President Jay Robinson.

Said Councilman Jimmy Conyers, “It’s something the community needs and wants.”

But questions have surfaced in recent days over which government agency should pay the lion’s share for a facility that will be used by Fairhope High School’s track program.

Fairhope City Councilman Jack Burrell argues that the Baldwin County School System should pony up more funds than the $250,000 its allocating toward the project. Fairhope High School is part of the Baldwin County system, which is the third largest in the state and includes more than 33,000 students.

“Why is the Baldwin County Board of Education not paying for all of the track?” Burrell said. “We’ll give them the right to the property to do that. I would like to see them invest more even in this track that we’ve already approved.”

He added, “The City of Fairhope is providing almost all of the athletic facilities. We don’t provide the gyms for the basketball team, but (the city provides) the softball, baseball and football fields and the soon-to-be track (facility). And not only are we providing it, but we also (supply) the labor to maintain it.”

Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler, in an email to AL.com, said the school system is grateful for the city’s “awesome investment” in building the new track. But he said he did not have any conversations with city officials about it, and that there were no promises from school officials that the track was viewed as a high priority project.

Tyler said that Fairhope High School Principal Jon Cardwell suggested to city officials that they put a pause on the track project once they learned of the cost overruns. He said the conversations consisted of making enhancements at the school’s other facilities “within the initial funding scope.”

Tyler said that, historically, the school system has spent $400,000 to $600,000 on competition track facilities but added that “we have never built them in hopes of attraction tourist-like events.”

“I’m no expert in tourism, but I expect there were added expenses for this facility in making their vision a success but recruitment for competition tourism is not something for which we would ever budget,” Tyler said. “Looking at the beach and Foley areas – sports tourism is big business and I applaud Fairhope for having a vision in this area.”

In addition to the $1.8 million devoted by the city and the $250,000 devoted by the school system, the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation dedicated $400,000 to the project. The corporation is a nonprofit, which owns Founders Park and leases it back to the city to operate.

The project’s overall price tag doubled from its original estimates. The city is taking on the cost overrun through revenues it generates from development impact fees.

Tyler said that Cardwell and Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan are discussing ways to enhance partnerships between the school-sponsored and city recreational sports.

“Fairhope should be commended as they continue to be a leader in commitments to local schools so much so that we always look forward to new partnerships and opportunities there,” Tyler said.

The school system, later this spring, is expected to unveil a new program that includes investments into athletic fields and fine arts venues.

Tyler said the decision on which venues deserve prioritization lands with local school administrators. To that end, he said, no school administrator in Baldwin County mentioned a new track as a priority project.

“That is not to say it isn’t needed or appreciated,” Tyler said. “It is and we are grateful.”

Fairhope city officials do view the track as a priority project, and one that could bring an economic boost to the city.

Robinson, the council’s president, said it is also more of a city responsibility to build and maintain the track that will be open for the community and not restricted to school-only events.

“It’s for the benefit of the school, but it’s also for the benefit of the citizens of Fairhope,” said Robinson. “It’s open for public use and I think it would always be helpful to get as much support from the school board as we can but they are contributing to this. It is a community feature, not just a school feature. I understand the majority of the burden falls on the city.”

For years in Baldwin County, the responsibility of making building improvements fell mostly to city governments. New turf at football fields, scoreboards and other investments have been the responsibility – sometimes the sole responsibility – of city government.

“We are grateful for the city’s contribution to their local schools,” Tyler said. “Cities across Baldwin County contribute to, build and maintain athletic facilities. Spanish Fort has spent millions to support athletics, as has Daphne. Every city in our county has made and continues to make substantial contributions toward athletics.”

He added, “Unlike other counties, Baldwin’s high schools align closely with major cities. These school athletic events become great sources of community engagement and pride with their namesake cities which often creates great partnerships between the schools and the cities.”

The Fairhope project is being financed with revenues generated by the impact fees assessed on the developers of new residential and commercial properties. The fee, on the residential side, brings in around $1 million annually.

Fairhope Public Works Director Richard Johnson said the majority of the revenue goes toward parks and recreational projects.

It’s unclear what type of track meets Fairhope is trying to attract. The Alabama High School Athletic Association hosts the Class 1A-3A high school track meet in Cullman each year, followed with the Class 4A-7A championship in Gulf Shores.

The AHSAA has a contract with Gulf Shores to host the state track meet until 2026, which would mark the 20th anniversary of the event being held at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.

Gulf Shores broke away from the Baldwin County School System in 2019 and has operated in recent years as a city school system. The only Baldwin County high school with a competition track is in Bay Minette.

“We could potentially compete to land meets, whether it be state or regional or subregional,” said Johnson.

Grant Brown, spokesman with the city of Gulf Shores, said hosting the major track meet can be costly. The city is spending $50,000 on improvements at the stadium ahead of this year’s meet.

But given the economic return, it’s proven to be good business for Gulf Shores.

“As with any long-term sports or event contract, relationships are key,” said Michelle Russ, vice president of sales, sports and events for Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events. “Because of our long-standing relationship with the AHSAA and the commitment from the city of Gulf Shores to keep its facilities updated, families from all over the state look forward to visiting Alabama’s beaches each year.”