Much-needed improvements at Rocky Branch Park in Sumrall are well underway, as over the past week workers have poured the first stretch of the walking track and continued with foundation work at the pavilion.
Mayor Joel Lofton said the upgrades were necessitated, in most part, because conditions at the park – which is located on Rocky Branch Road, just east of Mississippi 42 – had somewhat deteriorated over the past few years.
“It had kind of fallen into a state of disrepair,” he said. “We did have a walking trail there that was largely a wooden pathway, and a number of years ago an individual noticed there were some safety issues related to the construction and the condition of the wood.
“It had been there in an outdoor environment for quite a few years, so in the last (administrative) term that walking track was removed. So this board felt it was a priority to re-establish that walking track.”
To that end, the track is being expanded to a full quarter-mile, concrete path. In addition, the pavilion – which has been at the park for several years now – is being almost quadrupled in size.
Other upgrades also will soon be added to Rock Branch Park.
“We’ll be resurfacing the basketball courts, resurfacing the tennis courts, setting up some picnic areas with barbeque grills,” Lofton said. “There will be a couple other amenities (as well) that we’re not quite ready to share yet.
“But there’s a good bit going on there at the moment, where the residents and citizens of our community will have a good, safe place to enjoy the outdoors and participate in sports or exercise. Or they can just go and enjoy a picnic.
While some portions of the work have been contracted out to local businesses, the majority of the work is being done in-house to save taxpayer funds.
“I don’t have the exact numbers (at the moment), but we are operating within the budget set aside for this project for the year,” Lofton said. “It is a substantial investment in the community; I think this work currently ongoing is at least a $50,000 investment in that park.
“That’s with the hopes that in the coming year, we’ll be able to do even more. We would like to add some additional playground equipment for small children, and we’d like to add some (American With Disabilities Act) accessible playground equipment for some of our residents who have disabilities. We want to be able to service them as well.”
Officials expect the walking track and pavilion to be completed before October.
“Some of the other amenities will possibly be completed by then, but we don’t have as firm as a timeline,” Lofton said. “Right now, it’s mighty hot, but we’ve fortunate to have good weather to work in, so things are progressing.
“The court resurfacing will take place at the end of October or early November. In addition to all the groundwork being done, we have a lighting project that will light the entire park – the walking track, athletic courts – and we expect that to go to bid this fall as well.”
