Gadsden secures $822K grant for new splash pad and park upgrades

The City of Gadsden announced it has received a $822,634 grant from Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and the federal Land Water Conservation Fund to design and  build a new splash pad and other improvements at Joseph T. Robinson Park. 

In addition to the splashpad, the park will receive the following upgrades:

• Two pavilions
• Restrooms
• Parking area
• ADA-accessible sidewalks, 
• Lighting, security cameras and an emergency call station

“We have worked on this project for more than two years, and I’m proud to see it be realized.”

Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford

Gadsden is on a roll

This is the second major federal recreation grant the city of Gadsden has secured in the past two years. In September 2024, the city received a nearly $3 million grant from the  Department of Interior to construct the Downtown Gadsden Greenway. 

Gadsden has made several big economic development and project announcements over the past year.

This summer the “City of Champions” broke ground on the construction of a $430 million Minth Group auto facility. The community also started construction on a new $82 million sports complex in May 2026.