Members of the Competitive Community Program brought out theirchildren to participate in the dedication of Bicentennial Park atTuesday’s completion celebration.

“It’s great. It’s really great,” said 9-year-old Savon Smith.”I’m probably going to ask my daddy if I can come back here a lotof times because I really like this park.”

Smith’s father, David Johnson, served as a member of the CCP,the group responsible for envisioning and planning the parkrestoration.

“It will bring a lot of the kids together,” Johnson said. “Iknow a lot of kids grow up before their time. Hopefully this willslow that down.”

The approximately $120,000 project was funded through an $80,000Mississippi Development Authority, with the remainder covered byin-kind and volunteer help.

Members of the CCP were very encouraged by the completion of theproject and showed much appreciation for the hard work of everyoneinvolved.

“It turned out great. When this whole thing started, we weretalking about just cleaning this place up and after the grant itturned out well,” said CCP member Rob McCreary.

McCreary’s 3-year-old son, Josh, made good use of the new swingsand slides.

Members of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce,city officials, MDA officials and volunteers came out to thededication ceremony.

“We like to see the efforts of the community sharing a visionand pulling together to accomplish it most,” said MDARepresentative Mike Chadwick. “I hope that it revitalizes thecommunity. It’s going to bring people in here and energy into thisarea that has been in disuse.”

Volunteer Toni Hopkins, who lives across the street from thepark, was pleased with the finished product.

“I think it is beautiful and I helped put all that equipmenttogether,” Hopkins said. “There has been a lot of kids out thereplaying.”

CCP member Debbie Brent noted the park neighbor’s efforts.

“She (Hopkins) was very helpful in helping out when we wentaround with petitions and helping put the equipment together,”Brent said. “Two years ago when we started this, I never dreamed itwas come this far.”