From camps to community gardens, Vicksburg is a city that cares about its residents.

On Saturday, the Community Garden, which is on U.S. Highway 61 South. officially opened a new quarter-mile walking trail. The event also served as the official launch of the Community Garden’s farmers’ market, and the announcement of a dog park being planned by the Leadership Vicksburg class.

Organizer Linda Fondren said the park is designed to serve as an educational farmers’ market, and during Saturday’s event, Newk’s William Furlong demonstrated how to use fresh fruits and vegetables to make a watermelon salad.

The new walking trail that is now open wraps around the garden, and the planned dog park will also be built near the garden.

A playground for children and workout equipment including pull up bars and a bench to do sit-ups is have also been installed on the property.

The goal is the walking trail and dog park will turn the garden into a gathering place for the community.

“We are calling this a community park,” Fondren said. “It brings people out, it builds social bonds, it builds community friendships. When we start coming together that is when we help one another.”

A weeklong camp, hosted by the Vicksburg Warren School District, was held this week at Bowmar Elementary School.

It is the11th year the VWSD has held Camp Invention, which uses a curriculum developed through a partnership between the U.S. Patent Office and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

The goal of the camp was to take the STEM lessons in science, technology, engineering and math and use them to build and create. Activities throughout the week included launching rockets, building snowball fight slingshots, building water rockets and building a UV light circuit.

More positives in Vicksburg:

• Last Sunday, the Bud Light 3-Man Scramble was held at the Clear Creek Golf Course. David Adams, Jacob Paulk  and former Meridian Community College golfer Dan Luke to shot a 61, winning the local tournament by one stroke.

• The 60th anniversary of the Miss Mississippi Pageant came to a close Saturday night with Miss Vicksburg Anne Elizabeth Buys being crowned the winner.

“I am so excited,” Buys said, following the crowning.

“God is so good. I owe all the glory to him. Without him, I would not be here. I am so excited to represent Mississippi and to be the 60th Miss Mississippi crowned in Vicksburg, my hometown, the place I call home.”