Olive Branch awarded $2.3 million for Lick Creek Conservatory and Recreation Area
OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. — The City of Olive Branch has been awarded $2.3 million from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund (MOSTF) to develop the new Lick Creek Conservatory and Recreational Area, a major addition to the city’s expanding outdoor recreation network.
The MOSTF Board of Trustees unanimously approved more than $13.6 million in funding for 20 conservation and recreation projects statewide as part of the 2025 Project Application Cycle.
The Lick Creek project will be built on 48.43 acres of city‑owned land just north of the George Harrison Soccer Complex on Church Road. Plans include a lake with an overlook, a kayak launch, a Raptor Education Center, an access road, and parking. City officials say the project will expand opportunities for kayaking, birding, fishing, wildlife education, and passive recreation.
Outdoor recreation contributes $11.6 billion annually to Mississippi’s economy, and leaders say the new conservatory will strengthen equitable access to nature-based activities while improving riparian habitat and local water quality.
The project is part of a larger $14.9 million, four‑phase master plan designed to enhance stewardship, connect recreational assets, and deliver long-term ecological, educational, and economic benefits to North Mississippi. Future phases include a wooden boardwalk trail, an outdoor classroom, and an 11,000‑square‑foot education center.
MOSTF funding is awarded through a competitive scoring process based on criteria established in the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Act. Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams said the investment will help create a “generational space” in the geographic center of the city, supporting conservation, recreation, and community engagement for years to come.
