Graham Creek Nature Preserve to expand in Foley

FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG) — A nature preserve in Foley is planning to expand after a grant was given to the city.

The $4 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be used to "buy property," a release from the City of Foley said. The Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL, funded the grant.

The city and NOAA have been working in tandem for over a year to accomplish the project, as this is the first grant of its kind approved for Alabama.

“They award very few of these every year nationally, and this year,” Leslie Gahagan, Foley's sustainability and natural resources director, said.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich gave credit to Director Chris Blankenship and State Lands Director Patti McCurdy of the Alabama Department of