David Rainer: Repairs begin to make Gulf State Park pier whole again

Lamar Pendergrass had a dream several years ago when he became the South Region Operations Supervisor for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) State Parks Division. Pendergrass’s goal was to restore and upgrade the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores with durable materials that would stand up to the salty environment of the Alabama Gulf Coast. He accomplished that goal with one day to enjoy the work. Just as one of the Gulf of Mexico’s premier piers was set to reopen in 2020 after a $2.4 million renovation, Hurricane Sally made a direct hit on the Alabama Gulf