Almost four months into his new office as Natchez mayor, F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith spoke to Natchez Lions Club members Tuesday about his administration’s accomplishments and goals — including the Natchez Trace Parkway extension and the future of Liberty Park.

The park is home to the Lions-sponsored Dixie Boys baseball league and also serves as the fairgrounds for the Lions’ annual fundraising carnival.

While the path of the Trace extension is still under consideration, Smith said the park will surely be affected.

&uot;There will be some consequences because of it, and I know some of them affect this club and the activities this club carries on,&uot; Smith said.

The city is acting as acquisition agent for the Mississippi Department of Transportation in the trace extension project and will be paid in return for services.

&uot;I want to take the money that is given us and set it aside and save it for using to rebuild that ballfield,&uot; Smith said.

Smith said his goal is to have a new ballpark built and ready for play before the Liberty Park fields close.

&uot;I don’t want to lose even one season,&uot; he said.

Smith said he has already spoken with the park service about his goal and hopes the city, the park service and MDOT will be able to cooperate to make it happen.

Smith also spoke to other concerns raised by club members, including how the city plans to fund the maintenance and operating costs of the downtown convention center.

&uot;That was one of the biggest surprises I had after I got in office,&uot; Smith said.

&uot;(City officials) had no clue how much it would cost the run, maintain and market the convention center,&uot; he said.

Comparing the city to a business like his own, Smith said all projected costs should have been considered &uot;before we got this far along.&uot;

Smith also answered questions about plans for the bean field adjacent to Natchez High School.

&uot;I don’t think there is any doubt we’re going to end up with that property,&uot; he said.

The National Park Service, who owns the field, told city officials in the spring it would lease the property to the city for $1 a year to build a sports complex on the site.

Smith said officials are waiting to determine the path of the Trace extension before finalizing the agreement.

He also said the park service’s plans to build a Trace interpretive center on part of the property does not include any money for the city’s park service.

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