The Tupelo City Council accepted a $400,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) award for Ballard Park Lake shoreline improvements and approved submitting an application for $82,807 from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to repair and resurface the park's walking trail.

City staff described the LWCF award from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks as funding shoreline work that will "include the construction of the retaining wall along the north and east side of the lake and the construction of the concrete spillway on the south side of the lake, and the replacement of the walking trail bridge." Staff said the LWCF project number is 28-00726 and the award amount for the lake work is $400,000.

Staff also said the Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund application would cover base repairs, milling and an asphalt overlay for more than 9,000 feet of walking trail at Ballard Park. "This park is in need of base repairs, mill, and asphalt overlay throughout the whole trail. It's over 9,000 feet of trail, and that's what we will be asking for in this next grant," Abby said.

Councilors approved the grant application, authorized the mayor to sign the required resolution committing funds to complete the walking-track improvements, and approved the LWCF agreement for the lake project.