NATCHEZ — A survey is in the works for Natchez and Adams County residents so they can have a say in what they’d like in a recreation center.

The Natchez Recreation Planning Advisory Board looked over sample surveys and discussed ideas Thursday night.

“One of the things we want to do early on is involve as many people as possible who want to be involved,” Mayor Phillip West said.

He said if the city wants to be successful with this project, many people in the community must pitch in with ideas and input.

The advisory board hit a roadblock in trying to decide how and to whom the survey should be disseminated.

They discussed whether it should go to citizens by wards and to county residents by districts, whether it should be handed out in a public forum or given to students at schools to take home to their parents, and whether it should include regional areas like Jefferson, Wilkinson and Franklin counties.

West ended the discussion by saying that all the board members should think of the most efficient method of distribution and for the time being, the survey should only be sent to county and city residents.

Jim Coy, director of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, said it is important to focus on the core, which is the city, right now.

Carrie Lambert, director of Natchez Downtown Development Authority, said since county officials haven’t shown much interest lately, that getting its residents involved would encourage the city to be supportive.

The survey will be handled by the newly formed public relations subcommittee.

Two other subcommittees were formed, one for the outdoor recreation and one for indoor recreation.

Three representatives were chosen from both committee to form the public relations committee, which will report back at the next meeting with a survey and dissemination plan for recommendation.