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Ridgeland outlines $3.8M Purple Creek restoration, sewer and road upgrades funded with Madison County ARPA support
Summary
City of Ridgeland officials updated the Madison County Board on multiple infrastructure and park projects funded in part by the county's ARPA subawards, including a $3.83 million Purple Creek drainage restoration at Freedom Ridge Park, a $2 million ARPA-backed sewer extension on Colony Park Boulevard, and Wheatley Street reconstruction work.
City of Ridgeland officials told the Madison County Board that the city is moving forward on several projects financed in part by Madison County ARPA subawards, including a $3.83 million Purple Creek drainage improvement project at Freedom Ridge Park, a sewer and interceptor extension along Colony Park Boulevard, and a reconstruction of South Wheatley Street.
The Purple Creek project grew from an initial plan to clean a detention pond at Freedom Ridge Park into a broader restoration and ecotourism effort. "This is a really neat project the way it started out," a City of Ridgeland representative said, explaining the work includes new wildlife habitat, native landscaping, interpretive signage and walking trails. The presentation listed a total project budget of $3,830,000, including a $1 million match from the City Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. The contractor, Hemphill Construction Company, is excavating ponds and installing box culverts; pedestrian bridges and planting are scheduled to follow, with a target completion date of May 2, 2026.
County ARPA funds of approximately $2 million were described as a key component of a sewer and interceptor extension for Colony Park Boulevard that will extend to the north side of Colony Park Boulevard and connect south toward Carr Farms Road. The city said the work is intended to open land for economic development, reduce the need for one or more lift stations, improve fire flow through a waterline extension and improve water quality by creating looped connections. The project was bid and awarded to Hemphill Construction at $2,496,000; the city said it will use a state appropriation to cover the difference beyond the county's $2 million in ARPA funds. Officials estimated completion in the first quarter of 2026.
Wheatley Street reconstruction received $487,000 in ARPA funds and a $3 million reimbursement grant. The project will reconstruct South Wheatley Street from Lake Harbor Drive toward County Line Road as far as funds and construction logistics permit and will include a "road diet" in some sections to provide a continuous 6-foot sidewalk. Design is complete and the city said it plans to advertise bids within about a month and likely issue a notice to proceed in early January, aiming for November 2026 completion.
City officials also summarized other street and ditch work in Ridgeland that was supported with a $1,030,000 reimbursement grant, including paving, striping and ditch restoration on Post Road, McClellan Drive, Center Street, Livingston Road and the Old Agency Road ditch restoration and protection project. Contractors and schedules for those items were described as under way, with some work and striping scheduled to occur immediately and an Old Agency Road construction window noted in July.
During the presentation, Ridgeland officials offered to provide the county clerk with project summaries and asked that the county post information on its website. County board members confirmed the county's intent to meet the statutory ARPA spending deadline and said the projects appear on track to spend funds before December 2026.
The update included requests for follow-up briefings; county officials invited the city to return for periodic two- to three-month updates.
