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Biloxi council removes Danella Park from surplus listing after public objections
Summary
After public testimony and a presentation of a 1901 deed, Biloxi's City Council amended a surplus-property resolution to exclude Danella Park and declared two adjacent parcels surplus for developer discussions; councilers discussed protections to require timely development.
Biloxi City Council amended a proposed surplus-property resolution on May 1, 2026, to remove Danella Park after residents and descendants urged the council to preserve the historic playground. The council then declared two adjacent city parcels surplus to allow further negotiation with a potential developer.
The amendment followed a public comment by Audra Wilkes Danella, who identified herself as a Biloxi native and a family member of the donor. She presented a 1901 deed in which the donor stipulated the land "to be used as public grounds or to serve as a children's playground" and quoted the deed clause: "not to be sold or used for any other purpose." She told the council that the city has an obligation to honor that restriction.
Council members discussed how the broader surplus declaration would proceed. Councilman Gray moved to remove the ball field parcel from the resolution, saying, "I would like to make a motion that we remove the ball park out of this surplus property." The motion to amend was seconded and adopted. Council then approved the amended resolution to declare two parcels (city parcel identifiers 1410 H07, parcels 29 and 30) surplus; Danella Park (parcel 017) was explicitly excluded.
Council members and staff said declaring the two parcels surplus does not itself authorize any sale; it opens the process to negotiate with developers and to perform due diligence. Staff told the council the developer had expressed an interest in keeping public grounds incorporated into its concept, but any conveyance would require cure of a deed reversion or clearance from heirs if necessary.
Members discussed protections the council could require in a future sale, including development timelines, earnest-money penalties and a city right to repurchase under defined conditions. Council members asked staff to draft possible sale conditions such as requiring substantial work to begin within a specified period or allowing the city to reacquire the parcel if no progress is made.
The vote on the amended surplus declaration was unanimous. The council's action leaves Danella Park under city control while allowing the administration to continue negotiations for the neighboring parcels.
What happens next: Staff will continue developer due diligence and return to council with proposed terms or requests for rezoning, appraisals, or additional legal steps (for example, clearing the deed restriction). Any actual sale or rezoning would require further council approvals.
Votes at a glance: the amendment to remove Danella Park (parcel 017) passed by voice vote and the amended resolution declaring parcels 29 and 30 surplus passed unanimously.
Provenance: Topic appears in council discussion beginning with the surplus resolution and the public comment by Audra Wilkes Danella and runs through the amendment and vote (transcript blocks SEG 2538'SEG 2964).
