After physically starting the longtime project a little over ayear ago, city officials finally put the ceremonial feather in thecap when they cut the ribbon on the new walking trail at City ParkTuesday.

But, according to Recreation Department Director Terry Reid, theproject has been in the works a lot longer than that.

“We got the go-ahead on this project one month before HurricaneKatrina hit,” he said, telling the group that initially the trailwas meant to be a mile, but circumstances made it more affordableand sensible to build a half-mile track.

When Katrina hit, the walking track was put on the back burnerfor a while in the wake of more immediate projects, he said.

Reid said it wasn’t just the grant funds the city received fromthe Pearl River Basin Development District and the MississippiDepartment of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks that made the track apossibility, but also donations from local benefactors when thingslike lighting and exercise equipment became a must.

Mayor Bob Massengill also added it was a group effort by thewhole community that made the walking track possible.

“This was really a joint effort,” Massengill said. “The city andthe county really worked together to make this a reality. TerryReid and the board really got behind this project too, and wewouldn’t be here today without their efforts.”

Reid said the walking track had brought a new dimension to CityPark, and had actually given the area a bit of a facelift. Inaddition, he said, there are regularly 40-50 walkers on the trackeach day, especially in the early morning time.

“This trail really brought life back to this park,” he said. “Itmade it a totally different place.”

Mike Davis of the Pearl River Basin Development Districtcredited Travis Tadlock and Millard Smith, the two board membersfrom Lincoln County, for helping drive the project towardcompletion.

“This was a good effort with all the groups involved,” hesaid.

PRBDD architect Paul Collins, who did the master plan on thewalking trail, said it had really ended up being something he couldbe proud of.

“I’m just pleased to be a part of this,” he said, recalling thathe had first been made aware of the project in 2003. “All theobstacles since then have not deterred the project, and the cityand county have really helped to bring it to reality. I’m just gladto be a part of such a successful trail system.”