Big things are happening at 136 West Main Street in downtown Prattville. That’s the future home of The Picker House Kitchen & Bar—a new two-story restaurant and bar with views of Autauga Creek, set to open in late 2025.

Alabama is slated to gain a major new tourism amenity next year, and multiple local businesses are a part of the building team.

Chambless King Architects, Stick Architecture, Murray Construction, KPFF, Macknally Land Design, BBG&S, Garner & Associates Engineering, Building & Earth and Katalyst Restaurant Concepts are partnering to renovate Cheaha State Park Lodge in Delta.

In Prattville, there is a huge system of 24 overseen by the Parks and Recreation Department, directed by Kellie Carter.

The EA News recently sat down with Carter and Prattville Councilman Robert Strichik, on a sunny day by the beautiful fountain downtown. With a light breeze and a gorgeous view of the Mill Apartments and Autauga Creek, it was a great time to learn what is happening within the multitude of parks in Prattville.

Situated on the Cheaha Mountain summit, Cheaha State Park is Alabama’s first state park. It opened in 1933 and covers nearly 3,000 acres. Many structures in the park are the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a New Deal–era program created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression that improved the quality of public, natural resources across the country. 

Major renovations coming to Prattville's Spillway Park

The exhibition "A South Forty: Contemporary Architecture and Design in the American South" opened Saturday, Feb. 15, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Curated by Peter MacKeith, dean and professor in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the U of A, and designed by Jonathan Boelkins, architect and exhibition designer, the exhibition highlights the vibrant and distinctive architectural practices emerging from the American South. 

Construction could begin within the next year on a mixed-use development along the banks of the Coosa River in Gadsden.

Developer Patrick Lawler has signed an agreement with the city for Coosa Harbor, a project Lawler described as costing “north of $20 million.”

This past Saturday the Alabama Chapter of the American Institute of Architects hosted their Excellence in Design Awards ceremony at the Perdido Key Beach Resort as part of their annual conference. The juried competition reviewed nominations from architecture firms across Alabama and recognized projects that exemplify excellence in design. Only two projects received an Honor Award, the highest level of recognition AIA Alabama bestows, at this year’s ceremony—The Mill at Prattville and the Priceville Event Center. Both projects were designed by Chambless King Architects and had been recognized at the local level earlier this summer with awards from AIA Birmingham (an Honor Award and Citation Award, respectively).

Work is continuing on Northport's signature River Run Park, where city Engineer Tera Tubbs said development is on track for games to hosted there a little more than a year from now.

Tubbs addressed the Northport City Council Monday and said serious progress has been made since they broke ground on the site inside the larger Northport Shore complex on the banks of the Black Warrior River that will also include Kentuck Park and Warrior Baseball.

Wednesday evening was a monumental day for the historic preservation of downtown Prattville.

Officials, residents and lovers of history were present for the groundbreaking of the Picker House, which will soon be renovated into a beautiful restaurant with decks overlooking Autauga Creek.

Gadsden City Council members approved a second entertainment district for the future development of the city's western riverfront property.

An entertainment district allows people to take marked alcoholic beverages from one venue to another.

The City of Saraland is so excited about the progress at “The Land.” Mayor Rubenstein and Councilmember Natalie Moye joined Chelsey on Studio10 to talk about everything that will be involved. From an indoor facility to multiple fields, the City is so excited for phase one to be done by early 2025. That will include most of the outdoor facilities.

The National Recreation and Parks Association featured Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater with a multi-page editorial spread in their August 2024 issue.

On July 16, Chambless King Architects was honored by the Birmingham chapter of the Alabama Council of the American Institute of Architects for three design projects. The awards were presented to Chambless King Architects at the chapter’s annual design award ceremony at Back Forty Beer Company in downtown Birmingham.

The Historic Preservation Commission, or HPC, approved a slew of line items for updates, improvements and renovations to the Picker House, a historical landmark in downtown Prattville.

The renovations are in hopes of turning the Picker House into a two-story restaurant in the heart of downtown Prattville.

The Historic Preservation Commission, or HPC, approved multiple upcoming renovations for Spillway Park in downtown Prattville.

The park will have additional parking for downtown, a walking path along 4th street with a green space and a boardwalk along the Autauga Creek, an outdoor pavilion venue with public restrooms and renovations to the warehouse are all in the works for Spillway Park.

The City of Gadsden is looking at revamping the sports complex on West Meighan Boulevard. Initially, an aquatic center was proposed for the complex. Tuesday, the city council voted to enter into a contract with an architectural firm to evaluate the entire property.

Wednesday was a big day for the city of Saraland as a groundbreaking was held for the “largest” multi-use facility in Mobile County.

“It was a very very historical day in the City of Saraland,” Parks and Recreation Director Ashley-Nicole Flowers said.

This fall, the city of Saraland’s massive, $72 million sports complex called “The Land,” will open, and construction is underway now.

The city of Northport will break ground on River Run Park, its 36-acre baseball and softball complex, later this month on the banks of the Black Warrior River.

As the Thread has previously reported, River Run Park and the broader Northport Shore development that will house it are one of three major recreation projects the city is planning to develop simultaneously.