The $2.8 million downtown Art Park at Catfish Row and splash fountain is open to the public while the contractor works on the finishing touches.

The catfish-themed 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.

The park opened this week and kids have splashed in the fountain around workers with Camo Construction of Vidalia, La. Mayor Laurence Leyens said the project is “materially finished” except some minor work.

“It is open, but there are still a few details left,” Leyens said.

About 100 people attended a dedication ceremony for the park last month, although the project was not ready for public use.

Hours for the park are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and likely will be shorter during the winter, Leyens said.

City officials are also looking to put together a committee of local artists to begin work on the art walls part of the park. Plans call for the concrete walls to be decorated by local artists with work reflecting the history of the river and Vicksburg. There are also several decorative smoke stacks throughout the 70,000-square-foot park.

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.

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