Civil Municipal Magazine Aug 2023

209 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 SOUTHSIDE , ALABAMA We recently spoke with Snyder and Southside City Councilman Joseph Hutchins, and they told us why Southside is on the right side of growth. Indeed, it’s one of the fastest- growing communities in all of Alabama. Hutchins said that the City of Southside is currently engaged in a variety of significant ongoing projects. A riverfront development has improved things along the banks of the Coosa. Boat ramps and a boardwalk now make the area even more attractive for the city’s many enthusiasts of aquatic activities. Also added to this area were a playground and Blackstone Pizza & Bait Shack. “This is the gateway to our city”, Snyder says. Also nearby is Buck’s Island Boats, a boat dealership that is a major local employer, as the mayor points out. “That’s a big boost to the economy,” she observes, citing the pontoons, kayaks, and other recreational styles of boats sold at Buck’s, as well as rescue boats. Hutchins says this entire riverfront area is most attractive. The City of Southside has hosted many fishing tournaments in this area during the past year and a half. “We’re also working on several different drainage projects,” the councilman says, “and we just underwent our largest paving project for roads. We have obtained a design through working with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood (GMC), for a future park area at the city center, which will consist of a walking trail, pickleball courts, disc golf and more. By doing so, it will enable us to create a Park Space while actually solving a huge drainage issue. We’re also working with GMC on obtaining a design expanding on a current park area. There’s already a softball complex there, but we’d like to expand on that.” As well, as Hutchins points out, there’s a mile-long www.gmcnetwork.com • Architecture • Interior Design • Civil Engineering • Environmental Services • GIS • Landscape Architecture • Planning • Transportation Engineering • Geotechnical Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Surveying • Disaster Recovery