Downtown Mobile’s Bienville Square has closed to the public as the city launches a $3.2 million renovation of one of its oldest and most recognizable parks. Contractors began erecting perimeter fencing on Monday, Aug. 21, a process expected to take about three days, and the square will remain off-limits for the duration of construction.
According to city officials, the work will touch nearly every part of the park’s interior. Plans call for upgraded lighting, rebuilt walkways, bluestone pavers, refreshed landscaping, and a new seat wall. The restoration of the historic Ketchum Fountain at the park’s center is among the most anticipated elements of the project.
Funded Through TIF District
The project is being paid for through Mobile’s Tax Increment Financing District, with the JPayne Organization LLC serving as the contractor leading the work for the city. Completion is targeted for early 2024.
Mayor Sandy Stimpson called Bienville Square “one of the primary gathering spaces” in Mobile’s historic downtown, saying residents and downtown stakeholders will be pleased with the results once the project wraps up.