More and more people are finding ways to enjoy exercising. Sure, going to the gym is great and joining up with a group of buddies to compete in crossfit might be awesome, but a lot of folks just want to get outdoors and ride a bike without getting run over or take a walk or a leisurely stroll in the morning or evening.

Most folks around here use the Vicksburg National Military Park to get in a ride or run or walk, which is nice, but imagine, if you will, many of those folks getting the opportunity to bike, walk or run across the Mississippi River.

Biking, running or walking is not my forte (admittedly something that I need to work on), but our community is packed full of folks who do enjoy pedaling, walking and running on a daily basis. The VNMP is one of the few areas in town convenient for this usage. But we need more opportunities for this type of exercise.

During last week’s Warren County Board of Supervisors work session, a group calling themselves “Friends of the Old Mississippi River Bridge” outlined to the county elected officials the possibilities and benefits if the structure built in 1930 that spans the Mississippi River were open year-round.

Sitting there listening, it was evident the pros far out-weigh the cons in opening the bridge — used primarily for a rail line — to pedestrian traffic. From bringing more people to the downtown area of Vicksburg and the riverfront, to reaping the benefits of encouraging a healthier lifestyle and tourism draw, the old bridge could be a central piece to riverfront development in Vicksburg.

It’s been done in other communities.

Back in the early 90s, my brother and sister-in-law moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and I went up to visit. At that time, few people ventured downtown except to catch a Lookouts minor league baseball game. We caught a game in their historic stadium, but that was about it. Twenty years later the three of us decided to make a road trip to Gatlinburg and stopped in Chattanooga on the way and caught another Lookouts game. To say the difference was mind-boggling is an understatement.

Downtown redevelopment has been incredible. Streets that were once vacant are now crowded with folks going into shops and restaurants. Come to find out the development difference has been a 100-year-old bridge that was saved and created into a pedestrian bridge, which brought people back to downtown. As a result, a world-class aquarium is now in the area that draws tourists from all over.

Memphis, Tennessee, is trying the same formula and opened a pedestrian bridge in 2016 that was once used for rail and vehicle traffic. Thousands have used it in the last couple of years.

“River Path Junction” in Vicksburg could be the catalyst to jump start the development of the Vicksburg riverfront if the supervisors decided to pass a resolution encouraging the bridge commission to open the span to year-round pedestrians.

Can you imagine the possibilities? I can. And I hope our elected officials can also.

Rob Sigler is editor of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at rob.sigler@vicksburgpost.com. Readers are invited to submit their opinions for publication.