Along the shoreline of Mobile Bay lies a remarkable piece of land whose story is deeply woven into the history and future of our community. Known today as the Brookley Property, the site was once part of Brookley Air Force Base, an anchor of economic and civic life in Mobile for decades. When the base closed, the land did not lose its purpose. Instead, it began a new chapter, one shaped by education, economic development, and public stewardship.
In the late 1960s, the University of South Alabama acquired the 331-acre property, using it as a foundation for the growth of academic and research programs that would shape generations of students and professionals. Over time, as Mobile’s economy and infrastructure evolved, the importance of the Brookley Property grew alongside it, positioned at the intersection of Mobile Bay, Brookley Airport, and the region’s emerging aerospace corridor.
By the late 2000s, the Brookley Property had become one of the most strategically significant sites in the region.
Its location near Brookley Airport placed it at the center of Mobile’s economic future, particularly as Airbus prepared to establish its U.S. A320 aircraft manufacturing facility nearby.
At the same time, the University of South Alabama faced an urgent need: funding the expansion of USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital. In 2010, the USA Foundation stepped forward with a solution that addressed both the immediate needs of the University and the long-term interests of the community.
When the Foundation acquired the 331-acre Brookley Property, it did so with a clear mission—to support the University while carefully stewarding a site that held deep significance for the people of Mobile. This decision allowed the Foundation to provide $20 million to the University, funding the expansion of Children’s & Women’s Hospital, while also preserving the long-term potential of the land during a period of rapid regional growth.
Over the next decade, the Foundation managed the property with patience and intention.
Development opportunities were carefully evaluated to balance economic growth with environmental preservation. Key priorities included:
• Protecting wetlands along the shoreline of Mobile Bay
• Preserving public access to the water
• Supporting job creation and industrial development
• Positioning the property to strengthen Mobile’s aerospace corridor
Rather than rushing development, the property was managed in stages, ensuring that growth could occur responsibly while safeguarding the natural beauty of the Bay.
From the beginning, the community made clear that protecting the natural character of the Bay was essential. The Foundation’s long-term stewardship allowed that vision to become reality. By preserving wetlands and open space along the shoreline while supporting industrial development closer to the airport, the Brookley Property became an example of how economic progress and environmental responsibility can coexist.
In 2020, the Foundation sold 196 acres of the Brookley Property to the City of Mobile and its Industrial Development Board, of which 98 acres became Brookley Bay the Bay waterfront park. This supported continued growth around Brookley Airport and the surrounding industrial corridor.
The following year, the Foundation conveyed approximately 45 acres of preserved wetlands and a 50-acre developable parcel adjacent to the airport to the University of South Alabama.
This contribution directly supported the creation of the Whiddon College of Medicine, strengthening medical education and healthcare across the region.
Today, the Brookley Property stands as a powerful example of what thoughtful planning and disciplined stewardship can achieve.
It has supported healthcare expansion, medical education, economic development, environmental preservation, and public access to Mobile Bay.
What began as a former Air Force base has become something far greater, a shared investment in Mobile’s future that honors the past, serves the present, and protects what matters most for generations to come.
For more information about the Foundation’s investment strategy and timberland stewardship, please contact:
Maxey Roberts
Managing Director
USA Foundation
