Addie McCluskey
Elmore Autauga News
The Prattville City Council unanimously passed a resolution for emergency repair to the retaining wall system at North Highland Park (NHP), April 7, 2026, during their regular meeting, authorizing the mayor to take all necessary actions for the replacement of the wall, with Krebs Engineering being the firm of record.
Following a structural analysis of the wall, Day Structures found its overall condition to be poor and unstable due to excessive outward rotation, water buildup behind the walls, cracking in the mortar joints, and displacement at the base of the walls.
“It is our recommendation that the walls be removed and replaced immediately to prevent possible failure,” said Jeremy Day, president of Day Structures. “Due to the wall type and observed degradation, it is possible that portions of the wall could collapse suddenly and without warning, so we recommend that access to the area be restricted until the walls are replaced.”
With Alabama law allowing emergency contracts without public advertisement for bidding, and based on Day’s recommendation, the city brought forth the resolution for emergency repairs to the wall and discussed the details of the item.
“I think that we owe it to the young people in that community up there in that area to make sure they have a nice park to play in and a nice, safe park,” said District 2 Councilor Marcus Jackson.
NHP is currently undergoing a $783,359.60 upgrade to the basketball courts, lighting, and other infrastructure located on the retaining wall.
“I’d like to note that, during the construction phase now, it is a dangerous place,” said District 6 Councilor Robert Strichik. “While construction is happening, no trespassing signs are going to be posted up there as well, so let’s step back and let the construction workers and engineers do their jobs to bring this project to completion.”
Council President Michael Whaley followed Strichik’s comments by asking which engineering firm did not include a structural analysis of the wall at the beginning of the project, a concern that was raised at the previous meeting reported on at Prattville to inspect aging park wall amid ongoing improvements.
Strichik responded, advising that the wall was not initially part of the project. District 7 Councilor Thea Langley voiced concerns over Whaley’s question.
“I just think we need to be cautious and not impugn an engineering firm for not doing something that they were potentially not requested to do or potentially told explicitly not to include the wall in their scope of services,” said Langley. “I just want to be clear that we are not doing that.”
The discussion wrapped up with comments about how the council has learned more about engineering throughout the process, leading to a greater focus on the wall. With that in mind, the council unanimously voted to move forward with emergency repairs.
