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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The city of Pelham has been buzzing with activity in recent weeks as a slate of infrastructure and beautification projects are taking shape across the community. Projects include new restaurants, recreation spaces, roadway improvements and a new city gateway sign, all in an effort to better serve Pelham residents and match the area’s rapid growth.

The upcoming Pelham Public Library development, where several businesses will open doors, is nearing completion. Waldo’s Chicken & Beer is taking shape quickly, and site work has officially begun for Edgar’s Bakery. Bullet Coffee is also nearing completion, with the site set to add another exciting retail district to Pelham.

Pelham City Park is also undergoing significant enhancements. Construction is nearly finished on two new pavilions located near the splash pad and playground, which will provide shaded areas amidst the heat of the summer. At the same time, work crews are also constructing brand new NHL Street courts. The courts come on the heels of the introduction of Pelham’s NHL Street program, which was implemented in June 2024.

The new courts make Pelham the only city in the area to offer youth street hockey in a dedicated space. Online registration for the NHL Street summer league is currently open, and runs through Wednesday, June 11 for kids ages 6-12.

Pelham has also launched its annual street resurfacing project, with significant progress already being made in several of the city’s neighborhoods. At the intersection of Industrial Drive and Lee Street, a concrete island has been recently installed to improve traffic flow and protect signage.

Outside of city roads, Pelham’s Public Works crews undertook mowing duties at interstate interchanges for the first time since Pelham entered an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to maintain the gateways into the city.

In addition to landscaping along the gateways, a new gateway sign was installed in Pelham on Thursday, May 1 before temporarily being removed due to damage. The sign is currently in Atlanta being repaired and is expected to be reinstalled soon.

The city is also replacing the water mains along Crosscreek Trail and Creekview Drive to provide more reliable water service to Pelham residents. Work on the project began in April and is expected to take approximately eight months to complete.

In the recreation sphere, the Pelham Tennis Center received a new fencing upgrade and new branded windscreens were also recently installed. Ballantrae Golf Club also saw enhancements, with a newly completed landscaping project at the clubhouse and ongoing course maintenance, including weekly Monday tee time delays to ensure prime playing conditions. The course will also undergo greens aerification beginning on Monday, Aug. 4.

On Tuesday, May 6, demolition procedures began at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, firmly signaling a new era in Pelham. Long a cultural staple in the city, redevelopment plans are in the works, with the city inviting the public to participate in upcoming feedback sessions as the site is reimagined into a vibrant new destination.

All of the new projects and updates to the city come on the heels of Pelham being selected to join the Innovate Alabama Network, a designation that recognizes Pelham as a city that fosters growth.

“Being a member of the Innovate Alabama Network brings the city of Pelham and its residents public recognition as an innovative community and provides the city with future opportunities to apply for project grants that support innovation-related activities,” City Manager Gretchen DiFante said.

For more information on the city of Pelham, visit Pelhamalabama.gov.