Another step in the development of Picayune’s newest park was completed Monday as hot asphalt was compacted on a clay base to create the long-awaited walking track at Crosby Commons.
The 1,650-foot track, or about a third of a mile, should be ready for use by the end of the week, said Public Works Director Eric Morris.
This addition is one of many steps the city has planned to bring the park closer to the long-term goal of creating a multiuse park along Goodyear Boulevard.
So far, fencing, sod and an arched brick entrance with gas lanterns and a brick walkway have been installed at the park. The sod was donated by the Picayune School District when installation of synthetic turf at the high school football field took place in 2015.
Funds to conduct work at Crosby Commons came from a grant from the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation. The grant totaled $100,000. City Clerk Amber Hinton said that so far, the city spent $42,000 of that money to construct the walking track, including Monday’s asphalt work.
Some preparatory work for the stage took place prior to the asphalt work. Morris said wastewater lines were installed for the bathrooms that will be built near the amphitheater and some casings were installed in other key areas of the park for future additions when the city can afford them, such as a second set of bathrooms.
Work on the amphitheater is planned to begin by the end of the year or beginning of next year. Morris said he expects bids to be accepted in the next 30 days, and hopes that within 90 days that work will begin. Once it does, completion of those add-ons should take about six months.
Additional landscape work is also planned. Morris said sections of the park will feature one of four species of trees, which citizens can buy in memory of a loved one. When mature, the trees will also provide shade to people using the walking track.
A large open green space will remain at the park for public events.
Morris said the work is the combination of the city’s administration, department heads and engineering firm, Dungan Engineering, working together.
“It’s a team effort. Everybody’s had a piece of it,” Morris said.
Morris said he appreciates the LPRVF for their grant.
“I don’t know what we would have done without Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation,” Morris said.