The city of Picayune has appointed a Park Upgrade Committee to head up fundraising opportunities and seek grants that will be used to improve the city’s park system. The committee consists of city employees and members of the business community.

Money raised through these efforts will be used to upgrade facilities at Friendship Park in Picayune, Director of Operations Harvey Miller said.

Committee members include city of Picayune Grant Manager Christy Goss, Picayune Parks and Recreation Director Trevor Adam, Capt. Theresa Milar with the Picayune Police Department, Picayune Main Street Director Reba Beebe, Rev. Allen Hickman with Resurrection Life Ministries, Rev. Brian Dees, Pastor Darrell Worley of Christian Life Assembly of God and Laura Rutherford.

Miller said the committee had its first meeting Thursday to discuss improvements that can be made to the park.

He said over the last month, city employees have been replacing or repairing some structures in the park. Repairs include replacing rotten boards in Kids Kingdom, the park’s playground, replacing old swings and repairing other park equipment.

City employees have added mulch in the playground to help protect children from injury due to falls, Miller said.

He said the biggest upgrade at the park was the installation of a concrete curb around the splash pad to provide better drainage.

The curb has proven effective in retaining water that used to build up in the grass around the splash pad, Miller said.

Now that the committee is in place, the goal will be to address immediate issues within the park, such as adding a restroom between Kids Kingdom and the splash pad and more benches in the park.

Miller said the committee consists of people who have been involved in various aspects of the park for some time and he expects they will be successful with these ongoing efforts.

“These upgrades will have an economic impact on the city. The better we make it, the more people we can attract to the city,” he said.