Work on a new sports complex off Fisher Ferry Road could begin in a month, Vicksburg South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman said at Thursday’s Rotary Club meeting at Battlefield Inn.

Originally, the Fisher Ferry project was to incorporate adult and youth softball, and baseball fields. The Aquila Group was to oversee the project, but it has pulled out. Beauman, however, said the project remains on course.

“We are still in good shape on the sports complex,” Beauman said.

The city still has $4.3 million set aside to complete the project, he said.

“We’re at the process now where the contracts have been awarded. They started the surveying and then realized there was an issue with a wetland that had gone unseen in the first survey, because it was on the side of a hill. We worked with the Corps of Engineers to clear this up. I think within a month or less, we could have bulldozers come and start clearing and rubbing the land,” Beauman said.

Beauman said after the Rotary meeting that it could take six to eight months for the land to be cleared.

“We feel the adult softball field needs to be done first, because that’s where we have the biggest problem. The two fields we have (off Army Navy Drive) are beginning to wash out,” he said.

Work on youth softball and baseball fields would start after the adult softball fields are completed. Until then, youth baseball and girls softball will continue at Halls Ferry and Bazinsky parks.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com.