Thursday, community members involved with Picayune Main Street met at Southern Char Steakhouse to discuss various community issues including past, present and future city restoration and beautification projects.

“During our time serving the city, we want to leave it a little better than when we found it,” City Manager Jim Luke said before introducing Public Works Director Eric Morris. “Eric’s job is to make that happen.”

Morris gave a visual presentation on the projects taking place in Picayune that are improving the city’s southern charm.

“We want to enhance the city’s beautification and make us a place people want to move to and want to start a business in,” Morris said.

He touched on projects recently completed, including the new streetlights installed on Goodyear Boulevard, the enhanced landscaping around the Veteran’s memorial in front of the historic side of City Hall, the wrought iron fence around Crosby Commons, the new litter signs placed across town, 20 live oaks planted along Goodyear Boulevard, new signage for the Picayune Municipal Airport and the new parking area on Main Street.

Morris also spoke about future city projects currently in the works.

“We are planning to landscape the area around phase one and two of the new parking area on Main Street,” Morris said. “We also would like to include benches, gardenias and garbage receptacles near the parking.”

The city is also planning to conduct a road overlay project on Memorial Boulevard and install more streetlights on Highway 43 N., Morris said.

Morris also displayed several concepts concerning development of Crosby Commons, including a design of the covered amphitheater, which will be placed near the intersection of Kirkwood and Sixth Avenue within the park.

“None of these projects would be possible without the help from the community,” Morris said.

After the presentation, the floor was opened up for questions.