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Diamondhead City wins $500,000 stewardship grant for Montjoy Creek playground; manager gives project updates
Summary
City manager told the council the city received a $500,000 Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund grant to build a bulkhead and inclusive playground at the Montjoy Creek Nature Trail; the manager also updated the council on multiple park, trail and drainage projects and timelines.
City manager gave the council a broad update on capital projects, including a $500,000 Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund grant awarded to build a bulkhead and an inclusive playground adjacent to the Montjoy Creek Nature Trail at the end of Baynton Place.
The grant announcement was the centerpiece of the manager’s report. “So we received a $500,000, $500,000 grant, which will be used to create a bulkhead, and all inclusive playground area, attached to the Monjoy Creek Nature Trail,” the city manager said, adding the project will be on city-owned property. The manager said this is the city’s third Outdoor Stewardship award for the area and that an MOU is on the meeting agenda for council consideration.
Why it matters: the project funds a shoreline bulkhead and an accessible playground element intended to expand recreational access in the Montjoy Creek area and support trail connectivity. During the report the manager outlined several related projects and near-term steps that affect construction and scheduling.
Details and timeline: the manager said the Montjoy Creek project will be advertised this week for two weeks with bids due Feb. 24. The Jordan River Boardwalk remains on hold while the city waits for MDQ to return bid documents for staff review; once received the city can issue a notice to proceed. The Run by You Nature Trail and a planned connection from Noma Drive to Montjoy Creek were described as still in design review with engineers.
Other park work noted included active fence installation at the dog park and site clearing for the fitness park, a partnership with Ochsner. The manager said the fitness-park equipment is on back order and may not arrive until March, and suggested a possible combined ribbon-cutting for the dog park and fitness park in April if timelines hold.
Funding match and budget context: in response to council questions about match requirements for the stewardship grant, the manager said a cash match was not necessarily required and that the city plans to use previously awarded Tidelands funds as the local match; the manager referenced those Tidelands funds but did not provide a final, auditable figure in the meeting record.
Next steps: the manager said staff will meet with engineers to start design work on both the Montjoy Creek and Baynton Place elements and that an MOU related to the stewardship grant is on the meeting agenda for council action. The council did not take separate votes on the projects during this meeting.
