Roads, schools and hospitals are necessary elements for a successful city, but it’s the small things that make Any City, U.S.A. a place to call home.

The first on the list of small things is parks and playgrounds. And first on the list of musts for any park is seating.

Grass is nice for sitting on the cool spring days but the bugs think so too, so that moment quickly fades.

You must have benches.

Next, comes another form of protection from nature’s wilds — a roof.

Luckily, Natchez’s biggest park now has a new set of benches and a new pavilion.

The new additions are courtesy of two Leadership Natchez classes. The Chamber of Commerce’s program encourages locals to find a way to help their community.

But once one pavilion is built, it’s time for a second.

Recreation Director Ralph Tedder acknowledges a great need for pavilions and benches at all of the Natchez parks.

Leadership Natchez picked up the first torch, but now the community must keep it passing.

Our city is strapped for cash these days. As much as we would like for government to handle things like park benches, it may not happen anytime soon.

Our community is stronger than our government though, and together we can make Natchez, U.S.A. a better home for all of us.