NATCHEZ, Miss. – The city has received a $96,000 grant to enhance Duncan Park. The money is from the Recreational Trails Program funded by the federal government. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks allocates the money.
Meeting Tuesday with Natchez aldermen, city Parks & Recreation Director Ryan Porter said the $96,000 is to be matched with $24,000 in local funds. About $13,600 in private donations has been committed with more possibly to come so the local share doesn’t have to be from the city’s coffers, according to plans discussed at the aldermen’s meeting.
Duncan Park is the city’s main recreational venue that could accommodate a 1.5-mile trail system, Porter said, to complement the golf course, tennis courts, ballfields, playgrounds and picnic areas there now.
The Recreational Trails Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to enhance walking, running and bicycling pathways. Funds are distributed each year by states to applicants competing for the funds.
Porter and the aldermen on Tuesday also discussed maintenance challenges for the community swimming pool at Liberty Park. As plans are underway to drain and clean it, Porter said equipment problems that the pool had this past summer are being resolved.
“We’ve worked hard this off-season getting all of our controllers, gauges, sensors, etcetera repaired. So we’re to a point now, once the pool is drained and pressure-washed, everything will be in place to run efficiently for the next season – with the exception of a backup pump, which will be in a couple of months,” Porter said.
The public swimming pool is owned by Natchez-Adams County and jointly funded by the city and county governing boards.
Porter also said renovations of the Duncan Park pavilion by the playground and Auburn mansion is being completed for a ribbon-cutting soon.
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The Natchez-Adams County workforce development program is funded with federal grants awarded to Natchez. For more information about the program, go to its website: natchezworkforce.com
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