By LIZZIE BOWEN | Staff Writer

PELHAM– The 2023 State of our Communities luncheon was held at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena with presentations given by the mayors of Shelby County on what can be expected within the county in the upcoming year.

Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield, elected in 2020, spoke first in the presentation and provided updates on what can be expected in Alabaster in the coming year.

In 2022, the city of Alabaster broke ground on Patriots Park as well as took place in a park’s needs assessment in 2019.

“We purchased some property from Kingwood Church and were able to break ground in 2022,” Brakefield said. “That should open within the next month or month-and-a-half.”

Brakefield shared that construction has begun on Highway 119 as part of the first phase of expansion for the widening project as well as progress on Highway 31 improvements.

“I want to thank the members of our community and city who are responsible for day-to-day operations,” Brakefield said. “I can’t thank them enough.”

New pavilions and restrooms are now available at Veterans Park in Alabaster as part of a partnership with the county.

“Veterans Park was an expansion last year where we brought additional parking and expansion of our trails,” Brakefield said. “We also are working with the county to begin some construction on county roads and intersections within our city. “

Mayor Jon Graham was present representing the city of Calera offered updates on what’s to come for the city.

“Life is good in Calera,” Graham said. “We are continuing to grow with our residential sales and new home construction permits are up by 133 this year. Our market values seem to be holding our own.”

Graham said the city hopes to see I-65 widened from Alabaster to the Highway 31 exit in Calera in the near future.

New businesses have been opened in Calera, and the city is partaking in downtown revitalization efforts.

“We have purchased different pieces of real estate downtown,” Graham said. “We have a few more pieces to go. Be on the lookout for what’s going on in downtown Calera. We have a new Dynamic Discs downtown.”

Calera has two eighteen-hole…