The project to replace the former Riverfront Park in Vicksburg, which closed in 2022 due to extreme erosion, received a $1.5 million boost this week as part of the slate of projects approved for funding by the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund (MOSTF).

“The Vicksburg Riverfront Park Development project aims to transform donated land along the Mississippi River into a public park that provides accessible outdoor recreational space for the community,” MOSTF officials said in a statement Thursday. “The park will feature walking trails, picnic areas, and outdoor fitness equipment, all integrated with the natural landscape to minimize environmental disruption and future maintenance needs.”

The new Riverfront Park project is a joint venture between Warren County and the City of Vicksburg and MOSTF officials said those shared expenses were taken into consideration when approving the project for funding.

“The development addresses the community’s need for a safe and engaging outdoor space following the closure of the former Riverfront Park due to severe erosion. The County of Warren is seeking financial assistance because while state funding was allocated to the City of Vicksburg to cover its 50% portion of the project, Warren County has not yet received funding support for its share of the park’s development. The County’s financial resources are limited, and support from the MOSTF is critical to ensure the successful completion of this collaborative project.”

Warren County Board of Supervisors President Kelle Barfield said the funding is great step forward for the project, which will begin construction following approval of its phase two environmental study.

“So many residents and visitors are eager to see this beautiful donated space transformed into a community asset,” Barfield said. “Costs of such projects can be extraordinarily high, so the state’s Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund was an ideal mechanism to partner with our state leaders in ensuring that we can work to build a park that is as versatile as possible and yet without it being a tax burden on residents. When local and state leaders work together on important projects like this one, everyone wins.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced MOSTF board’s most recent round of funding through competitive grants during a recent public meeting. These projects, totaling more than $13.4M for 28 conservation and outdoor recreation projects, are located in communities around the state, and the project awards demonstrate its unique private-public partnership model, where the MOSTF has invested $13.4M of state funds matched with an additional $25.3M in funding from other private, local, state, and federal sources, MOSTF said. This results in a combined impact of $38.7M of conservation and outdoor recreation improvements for the people of Mississippi.

MOSTF is planning its next grant application period for August 1, 2025, pending funding secured during the 2025 Legislative Session. For more information, visit https://www.dfa.ms.gov/most, Facebook at Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund or Instagram at @msoutdoortrustfund.