Change comes slowly in Natchez-Adams County, but we’re appreciative when it comes sometimes.

Six years ago a group of volunteers formed the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission.

Their goal was simple: Figure out how our community — or at least the Mississippi side — could work together to improve recreation for local residents.

Their early work led to the non-binding referendum that overwhelmingly passed on the November 2009 ballot. The measure simply asked if residents would support the city, county and public school district working together to construct a new recreation complex.

The answer was a resounding: Yes.

But five years later the wheels of progress have barely nudged forward. Earlier this year the City of Natchez agreed to relinquish the majority of the city’s substantial recreation budget to the commission and a yet-to-be hired city-county recreation director.

That’s a great step in the right direction, we suppose, since local elected leaders seem unwilling to dole out money to truly create a modern recreation program.

Instead of leaping ahead, we’re taking baby steps, but at least it’s progress.

Hopefully, once the recreation director is hired, the city and county leadership will begin to see the benefits of an organized, well-planned recreation effort and maybe, just maybe, the people in charge of the purse strings will give a little.