Fondren group urges greenway and flood-mitigation plan for Eubanks Creek; city asks Army Corps to review

The Fondren Renaissance Foundation on Aug. 12 presented a community-driven plan to address persistent flooding, pollution and erosion along Eubanks Creek and urged the city to support a combination of flood-mitigation tools and public-space improvements.

Doug Boone, the foundation’s executive director, summarized the foundation’s two-year planning effort and a resulting action plan that recommends detention and retention basins, stormwater parks, removal of trash and invasive vegetation, structural repairs at bridge pinch points, and greenway connections to other parks and regional amenities. “Transforming Eubanks Creek from a problem for the 250 plus structures in its flood plain into a welcoming neighborhood asset of walkable greenways and open spaces” was the foundation’s stated aspiration, Boone said.

Mayor and council members said the city had approved a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting review and potential resources. The mayor told the council the Corps had visited and could supply hydraulic modeling and other technical assistance that would inform project design and grant applications.

Fondren leaders said preliminary studies and resident outreach have generated local enthusiasm for a project that pairs flood mitigation with recreation and education. The plan’s authors said local work already completed by the foundation and consultants may count toward any local cost-share the Corps requires.

Council members expressed support and asked staff to return with next steps for coordination, potential funding sources, and a schedule for community meetings and permitting. The mayor said the city would follow up with federal, state and local partners to identify available programs and technical assistance.