Where can you find recreation in the Miss-Lou?

Natchez residents do not have to drive far to enjoy family recreation. In fact, they do not even have to drive out of the city limits.

North Natchez Park is the location of the exciting water spraygrounds. This free water playground is a flat surface splash pad with computer-controlled water jets, sprays, geysers and fountains. It is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day from April through October. The facility is ADA accessible.

North Natchez Park also features 10 outdoor basketball courts, one lighted baseball field, two playgrounds, several picnic areas and two lighted tennis courts.

Duncan Park is also home to a diverse group of recreational activities. It has an 18-hole golf course with a driving range, eight lighted tennis courts, three lighted baseball fields and two volleyball courts.

If team sports are not a person’s hobby, the park also offers a nature and mountain bike trail and a walking trail.

Children will also enjoy visiting Duncan Park because it has three playgrounds. Entire families can dine at one of the five picnic areas, or enjoy the open-air pavilions. They can even visit the historic train display for an educational moment.

One of Duncan Park’s main attractions is its golf course. The 18-hole course plays like a private club, and the golfer also benefits from a driving range and the park’s PGA professional, Marvin Gray.

As well as serving the community during the week, the golf course is also home to large regular tournaments such as the Joe Fortunato Classic, the St. Jude Benefit Tournament and the Bill McKinney City Championship. Duncan Park’s tennis courts host major tournaments such as the Cancer Benefit Tournament.

Park and golf maintenance crews work seven days a week to keep the facilities clean and well maintained.

&uot;Duncan Park is now again in great shape,&uot; Recreation Director Ralph Tedder said. &uot;We strongly encourage Š all area citizens and visitors to use our parks and to support our community golf course through regular play. It is just as important for our community to play golf at home as it is to shop at home. More golf user play results in more improvements and maintenance to the golf course.&uot;

Other parks include Concord Avenue Park, which has basketball and volleyball courts, playground equipment and an open-air pavilion, and North Natchez Park on Triumph Lane, which has a recreation center, open-air pavilion, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, and playground equipment.

The city Recreation Department also maintains two smaller family parks, Oseola Park and Jack Waite Park, and the Martin Gymnaisum.

For more information, call the Recreation Department at 445-4927.

For information about softball, baseball and soccer leagues, call the recreation department or the Sports Center at 442-7951.

Adams County parks

Adams County helps maintain several neighborhood parks throughout the county. Most are run and regulated by the residents in each neighborhood. The parks include Broadmoor Park, Lower Woodville Youth Park, Lagrange Park, and Cottage Playground on Cottage Drive. Other smaller parks include Pinemount and Kingston.

Concordia Parish parks

Concordia Parish’s three recreational districts offer residents many opportunities to exercise and relax.

Vidalia’s recreational complex on Alabama Street offers four baseball fields, one softball field, a tennis court, a recreation center and a pavilion.

The town also has a softball park and two tennis courts near Vidalia High School on Carter Street, two baseball fields and one tennis court near Vidalia Junior High on Gillespie.

T-ball, baseball and softball leagues for ages 5 through 18 play from April through mid-July. An adult softball league also plays during the summer.

A public pool used during the summer and baseball and softball fields are located by Monterey High School on Louisiana 129.

Ball programs are available for children pre-kindergarten age through age 10, and men’s and women’s softball is also available.

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge

The National Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge has 13,168 acres andis composed of some of the last remaining and least disturbed bottomland hardwoods in the Mississippi River Delta. The refuge is open year round to the public. However, hunting is only permitted on the refuge during specific times of the year. It is located in Concordia Parish in east central Louisiana. For information, call (318) 336-7119.

http://www.fws.gov/bayoucocodrie/

St. Catherine Creek Wildliife Refuge

The St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge is 25,000 acres of nature trails and fishing, hunting and wildlife-watching opportunities.

It is located along the Mississippi River from Cloverdale Road to the Homochitto River.

For information, call 442-6696.

http://fws.gov/saintcatherinecreek/

Natchez State Park

Natchez Lake offers water sports and excellent fishing, boasting the state’s record largemouth bass. Ten cabins, a picnic area and nature trail are available.

There are 50 improved and eight tent camping pads. Hamburg road, an old plantation road, runs through the park.

Natchez State Park is located on 230-B Wickcliff Road, about 10 miles north of Natchez off U. S. 61 at Stanton.

For information call 442-2658.

http://mdwfp.com/parkview/parks.asp?ID=5845

Beau Pre Golf Course

Beau Pre is Natchez’s newest recreation attraction. Beau Pre Country Club is a semi-private club located on U.S. 61 South.

Beau Pre opened in mid-July 1999 to its members and is expected to open to the general public in August.

Beau Pre replaces Belwood Country Club, whose land was sold to the county.

The new course is 6,935 yards from the tips and 6,442 yard from the members tees.

Green fees are $55 Tuesday through Thursday and $65 Fridays and Saturdays.

Contact Tom Bryant at 442-8181.