2023 City of Gulf Shores Annual Financial Budget Approved

Mayor Craft and City Council Members voted unanimously to approve the proposed 2023 City of Gulf Shores Annual Financial Budget at the November 14 City Council Meeting,

The 2023 annual budget focuses on achieving Vision 2025 Core Values, improving transportation and education, and ensuring the City’s beaches remain safe and inviting.

The work done by all City Departments preparing the budget book and linking their goals, objectives, and outcome measures to the Council’s Vision 2025 Key Strategies and Priorities have resulted in a constantly improving, dynamic City budget. 

To view the 2023 City of Gulf Shores Financial Budget, click here. 

City of Gulf Shores Announces Closures in Honor of the Thanksgiving Holiday

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the City of Gulf Shores will have the following facility closures and changes to regular hours of operations:

• Police, fire, and other emergency services will remain open to ensure public safety and health.
• Administrative offices for the City of Gulf Shores will be closed on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular operations will resume on Monday, November 28, at 8 a.m
• Republic Services Garbage and Recycling Service will not run on Thursday, November 24. Crews will pick up Thursday’s trash and recycling on Friday, November 25. The City of Gulf Shores Recycling Center will remain open for drop-offs.
• Yard debris/bulky pickup will not run on Thursday, November 24, or Friday, November 25. Crews will pick up Thursday and Friday’s debris between Monday, November 21, and Wednesday, November 23.
• The City Store will be closed Thursday, November 24, and will resume regular operations on Friday, November 25.
• The Thomas B. Norton Public Library and the Gulf Shores Museum will be closed from Thursday, November 24, through Sunday, November 27. Regular operation hours for the library and museum will resume on Monday, November 28.
• The Bodenhamer Recreation Center, Cultural Center and George C. Meyer Tennis Center will be closed on Thursday, November 24. Normal business hours will resume on Friday, November 25.

For more information or general questions, please contact 251-968-2425 or email us at communications@gulfshoresal.gov.

We wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday!

Community Christmas at Sims Park

The City of Gulf Shores is kicking off Christmas festivities with a celebration at Sims Park on December 2 at 6 p.m.

Families can enjoy pictures with Santa, holiday treats, crafts, and the 7th Annual Snowball Drop. The Snowball Drop is a man-made blizzard featuring 8,000 ping pong balls dropped from above by Santa. Winning snowballs will have a number that correlates with a prize supplied by our generous sponsors.

Visit www.gulfshoresal.gov/Christmas to learn more!

The Baldwin Pops Holiday Concert

On Tuesday, December 6, the City of Gulf Shores will open its doors to host the Baldwin Pops band for a Christmas Concert at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center. The Baldwin Pops is an organization of volunteer musicians whose mission is to share music in a concert band format free of charge to the citizens of Baldwin County.



This event will not require a ticket. Seats are first come, first serve. Baldwin Pops Concerts are a collection site for the US Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program. Patrons are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped gift.

Learn more at www.gulfshoresal.gov/Christmas.

Gulf Shores Sportsplex Pickleball Courts Grand Opening

The Grand Opening of the new Gulf Shores Pickleball Courts will take place on Thursday, December 15. A short opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., and the inaugural dink (match) will take place at 10:30 a.m.

The 12 outdoor, lighted courts are located on the east side of Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium and share the parking lot with the Varsity Baseball Field. Pickleball players have been utilizing the gymnasium at the Cultural Center and outdoor basketball courts for play, limiting court availability. With these new courts, residents and visitors alike will have the opportunity to play on certified pickleball courts year-round.

Funding for the new courts was split between the City of Gulf Shores and Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. As the growth of pickleball continues, these courts will also provide sports tourism opportunities through possible tournaments and league play.

We hope you to see you all there for the first dink!

Movies at Meyer Park Christmas Edition

Join the City of Gulf Shores for Movies at Meyer Park Christmas Edition on December 15 at 6 p.m. and watch as Buddy the Elf embarks on his journey to find his father in the Big Apple!

All Movies at Meyer Park showings are free to the public and begin at 6 p.m. Meyer Park is located in the Waterway Village District at 400 East 22nd Avenue in Gulf Shores. Food trucks will be present at each event for those wanting to purchase food, and the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber will be onsite selling beverages for all ages to enjoy.

For more information visit 

www.gulfshoresal.gov/SpecialEvents.

Breakfast with Santa

Children will have the opportunity to visit with Saint Nick on Saturday, December 17, as the City of Gulf Shores hosts Breakfast with Santa at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center.

Beginning at 8 a.m., families can dive into a wholesome breakfast complete with sausage, bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Admission for Breakfast with Santa is $5.00, while children 3 and under are free. Children will also receive a complimentary picture with Santa.

Learn more at www.gulfshoresal.gov/Christmas.

Practice Sustainability this Thanksgiving!

There’s no time of year quite like the holidays, and no celebration is complete without food, family and friends. But, with holiday fun comes – you guessed it – extra waste. In fact, our household waste increases about 25% during the holiday season.

With the right planning, you can help cut down on what ends up in the trash. Read on for some tips to have an eco-friendly celebration this Thanksgiving while maximizing your leftovers and minimizing your waste.

• Pick reusable. Skip the paper napkins, plastic utensils and disposable cups this year and opt for reusable dishes for your gathering. This simple swap will keep unnecessary items out of a landfill.
• Plan it out. The best way to reduce your holiday waste is to plan ahead for your meal. According to the USDA, the average family wastes $1,500 worth of uneaten food every year. This Thanksgiving make sure to only buy the ingredients and supplies that you need to minimize food waste and stay on budget. 
• Make the most of the meal. Even with careful planning, you will likely still have holiday leftovers. Make sure to maximize your leftovers by repurposing them into new meals. With some creative thinking (and online searching) you can level up those leftovers to be more than just a turkey sandwich. 
• Save the scraps. According to the EPA, yard debris and food waste make up about 30% of waste sent to landfills. Composting your food and yard waste helps reduce emissions by diverting these items from landfills, which produce methane. All the vegetable scraps, fruit peels and dry pieces of bread are a perfect addition to your at-home compost. 
• Recycle glass at the Recycling Drop Off Center. Glass has many uses as a recycled material, including fiberglass, faux turf and bottles. While glass is not accepted in your road side recycling bin, you can bring your glass bottles and jars to the Recycling Drop Off Center.
• Be wary of plastic packaging. Many foods are packaged in plastic. While plastic can be a great recyclable material not all plastics are created equally. It’s important you understand which plastics are recyclable. Typically, plastic bottles and jugs are recyclable, but flexible plastics – like plastic bags and packaging materials – aren’t. 
• Keep it clean. When recycling plastic bottles or jars, metal and aluminum cans, cardboard and more, it’s important that your items are empty, clean and dry. Recyclables must be empty, clean and dry to prevent the contamination of other recyclables in the collection truck and at the recycling processing center.

Questions about recycling? Contact Public Works at 251-968-1156.