NATCHEZ — “Out with the old, in with the new” is not a phrase frequently thrown around in a city rooted in history such as Natchez.

But that’s exactly what city officials plan to do at Duncan Park.

Community Development Director James Johnston told the board of aldermen Monday that the city was successful in capturing a $150,000 grant to build new restrooms and a tennis pro-shop at Duncan Park.

Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery said new restrooms at the park were “a long time coming.”

“Those restrooms have been there since I was a little kid,” Fortenbery said.

The grant comes from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks’ land and conservation fund.

Johnston said the city would be responsible for the remainder of the project. The has budgeted at approximately $400.000 forthe total project.

Before the city can break ground on building new restrooms, Johnston said several steps must be taken first.

Johnston said the board agreed last week to sign a contract with Natchez-based Waycaster and Associates to provide architectural services in drawing what the restrooms and pro-shop would look like.

Once that draft is made, Johnston said the city would need to bid out the project, and then award a bid.

Johnston approximated spring 2016 as the earliest construction would begin at Duncan Park.

“This is probably one of the best grants we’ve gotten in a while,” Fortenbery said.

Since no construction plan has been drafted yet, Fortenbery said he didn’t know how many toilets the new restrooms would have, or what the pro-shop would look like.

“I’m pretty sure it will meet the needs (of the park) though,” he said. “We still need to iron out all the details.”

Johnston said he was unaware of any definitive plans to demolish the current restrooms at Duncan Park.