Mayor Laurence Leyens led a charge of children into the spray fountain Saturday for the dedication of the downtown art park.

“This is a real special day for me,” Leyens said.

Although the $2.8 million park doesn’t officially open until July, about 100 people attended the ceremony at The Art Park at Catfish Row. The centerpiece of the project is a catfish-themed splash fountain that the children and a few adults romped in following Saturday’s presentation.

“The most asked question I have gotten for the past four years since I’ve been mayor is from the kids who want to know what we have for them to do,” Leyens said.

The park at Clay and Levee streets includes a steamboat-themed play area, bathrooms, a stage and the splash fountain. Parts from the Sprague, a record-setting towboat that was a downtown attraction until it burned in 1974, are also being incorporated into the theme.

Once finished, another big part of the park will be the art walls that will be decorated by local artists with work reflecting the history of the river and Vicksburg. It also has several decorative smoke stacks throughout the 70,000-square-foot park.

“I think those of you here today understand what we were trying to do,” said South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman.

Funding for the project came out of the $17.5 million 2001 bond issue that is also paying for other downtown improvements, street repaving, property and plans for a softball complex off Fisher Ferry Road.

Leyens and Beauman are both seeking second terms in Tuesday’s municipal election and are hoping voters will see projects like the art park as being worth the cost. The third member of the current administration, North Ward Alderman Gertrude Young, was out of town, but lost her bid for a fourth term in last month’s Democratic primary race.

The art park project has been in the works for two years and Camo Construction of Vidalia, La., has spent nearly a year in construction, but weather has delayed the work. It was originally scheduled for completion by the end of May.