Park enhancement project set to start in Southaven

Southaven city officials are moving forward with a neighborhood park enhancement project to add improvements to neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

Construction on the improvements is expected to begin in May with completion scheduled for February of next year.  

Officials say that, in addition to the following detailed list, new rubberized surfaces will be added to several playgrounds and general playground equipment maintenance will continue as needed, funded by the city’s general fund budget line specifically for neighborhood parks.  

Here’s a summary of the improvements planned that will be covered by the low bid of over $2.8 million the Board of Aldermen accepted at an earlier board meeting: 

• Cherry Valley Park…resurfaced walking trail & new playground
• Brookhaven Park…resurfaced walking trail, new pavilion & new bridge
• Greenbrook Lake Park…resurfaced walking trail & new playground
• Hal Guthrie Park…resurfaced walking trail, new pavilion & new playground
• Summerwood Park…new pavilion
• Southern Pines Park…new pavilion & new bridge
• Swinnea Park…new pavilion
• W.E. Ross Park…resurfaced walking trail
• Ross Pointe Farms Park…new 10-ft multi-use trail & new pavilion
• Trinity Pointe Park…resurfaced walking trail, new pavilion & new bridge
• Plum Point Park…new walking trail & new pavilion
• Central Park…resurfaced walking trail with expanded route, new 10-ft multi-use trail connecting Swinnea & Tchulahoma, new pavilion & two new bridges
• Snowden House Front Yard Park…resurfaced walking trail  

Officials said this is part of an aggressive and larger-scale plan to improve the city’s park offerings.  Mayor Darren Musselwhite added that the overwhelming majority of this funding has come from the one-percent restaurant tourism tax.  

“Our plan has been enormously successful both from an amenities and financial standpoint,” Musselwhite said. “Now, we’re in a position to make a tremendous investment into our neighborhood parks and further improve the quality of life for more of our citizens.”