NATCHEZ, Miss. – The Board of Aldermen approved a contractor’s bid Tuesday for renovating the city-owned Duncan Park Golf Clubhouse, a state historic landmark to be refurbished at a cost of about $1 million.
Hope Enterprises’s $953,000 construction proposal is within the budget set for the project after previous bids exceeded what Natchez aldermen and the mayor had earmarked for it. This is being paid for with money borrowed by the city through a bond issue and private funds raised from donors.
Built in 1948, the Duncan Park golf course facility has been designated by the state as a Mississippi Landmark that has fallen in disrepair.
The long-planned project has the Natchez-based contractor restoring the front building’s exterior and lobby, putting in new restrooms, building a lounge and installing new electrical, plumbing and mechanical fixtures. Demolishing the interior layout of the middle metal building is also in the plans. The existing sides of the front building will remain as is.
Plans for the deteriorating structure have called for it to be outfitted with country club-like accommodations. The city has contracted north Mississippi architect Belinda Stewart, a historic preservation specialist, as project designer.
Natchez aldermen have had to turn down contractors’ bids twice for the project in recent months because their costs busted the budget. The board agreed in November to increase the amount of money originally budgeted to renovate the clubhouse.
The amount allocated includes money the board borrowed in 2021 through bonds and the additional private donations.
Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson is asking people to contribute money to match $50,000 that an anonymous local donor has committed as city officials aim at a final $100,000 allocation for the renovations.
“Even if you are not a golfer, this is a much-needed economic driver that will help attract residents, businesses and conventions,” states an e-mailed solicitation the mayor’s office sent out last month.
Interested donors can go to a website that’s been set up for contributions: https://givebutter.com/I6AB3s
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