Gulfport Plans to Turn Alleys Into Community Spaces

Last week, the City of Gulfport took its first step toward turning alleyways into community venues, which could soon be up for vote. The Mississippi Main Street Association conducted a study to see what can be done.

Murky Waters is a popular sports bar in downtown Gulfport with a small back patio where people can sit outside. The only problem is the patio faces an alley that’s dirty and graffiti ridden. That may soon change thanks to the City of Gulfport and the Main Street Association, who are working together to turn alleyways into community spaces. Johnny Olsen, President of Gulfport Main Street Association, says, "There are alleys like this all over the place that are dormant, that are nasty, for lack of better terms, that we want to make it special."

Some things the Main Street Association suggested include overhead lighting to make the spaces more inviting, changing the ground space to either brick or grass, and lining the alley with public art that people can enjoy as they walk by. Olsen also says, "The idea here is to take cues from other communities that have really used alleys as public space and bring that right here to Gulfport."

Turning the alleys into community spaces would bring more foot traffic through the area. Local restaurants tell News 25 they also believe it would be good for business. Ricardo Thomas, Assistant Manager of Murky Waters, says, "We do need some space to actually store things like grease traps and trash, but as long as those concerns are adequately taken care of, a through traffic through the back way would probably be good for all the businesses involved."

The cost of fixing up one alleyway would cost between $75,000 and $150,000. The city would use grant money already established for streetscape improvements in the downtown area. The city plans on using this alley between 26th and 27th Avenues as a model for what can be done in other alleys, not only in Gulfport, but along the entire Gulf Coast.