The City of Pascagoula Parks & Recreation Department and Wal-Mart will be hosting a Flashlight Egg Hunt and Bunny Hop Dane for Easter at Beach Park beginning at 7 p.m. for children in grades First through Fourth.  Participants should bring their own flashlights for the egg hunt.  For information contact Ann Burgo at (228) 938-6612.           

March 29 – April 1 – Spring Break Camp – $70 per child

The City of Pascagoula’s Spring Break Camp will be held Mon., March 29 – Thurs., April 1 for children ages six and up.  Participants must register by Fri., March 19 at the Pascagoula Recreation Center.  Activities will include bowling, a park tour, a visit to the Gulf Coast Exploreum and Imax Dinosaur Exhibit, and an egg hunt/party.  The camp will begin each day at 7 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m.  For more information contact Antoinette Johnson at (228) 938-2356.

April 17 – Live Oak Arts Festival – FREE ADMISSION

Planning underway for the 1st Annual “Live Oak Arts Festival” Sat., April 17 from 8 a.m – 10 p.m. offering a full day of festivities including fine art, food, two musical stages for live entertainment, a give-a-way of 300 Live Oaks, children’s activities and much more.  For more information call Rebecca Davis at (228) 938-6604 or Jennifer Flanagan at (228) 938-2352.

Old PHS and Auditorium –

-      The developer has pulled all of his permits and demo and framing crews have been working on-site for a week.  As they move from the back to the front of the building, more activity will become apparent.  The plan is for the auditorium to be restored, with added restrooms, so that it will be self-contained.  The City and community groups will have use of the auditorium for functions, such as choir concerts, films, etc.  The current capacity is approximately 750 seats.

Pascagoula Recreation Department and new Senior Center –

-      The Recreation Department has a newly updated and remodeled Rec Center in the Old Pascagoula High Gym on Pascagoula Street.  The Rec Center has a full basketball court, which can be divided in two for practice, three standard classrooms, and one large classroom for public use.  The Rec Department offers numerous sports leagues and camps, as well as children’s activities year round. 

-      The Senior Center offers an abundance of classes and activities including painting, dancing, and pottery classes to luncheons and field trips.  The Rec Department also offers guitar lessons for children, and sign language, women’s self defense, aerobics, weight watchers, swimming lessons for adults. 

-      The New Senior Center, which will open later this year, once the roadway and parking is completed, will include a large community room named the “Live Oak Room”, which is 2500 sq. feet, plus a stage.  It will accommodate 160 people seated at tables and 250 people seated auditorium style.  This room will be available to the community for rent.  The Senior Center also has a pottery facility and additional classroom and instructional space.  

-      The Recreation Department is putting together a comprehensive City Events Guide.

Relocation of Wastewater Treatment Plant –

-      The City is coordinating with the Jackson County Utility Authority regarding the relocation of the Pascagoula Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The City has met with our Congressional delegation about this project, and a request was made to Congress this winter to fund a feasibility study to determine the cost of the project as well as site suitability.  A request was also made for federal assistance in funding the plant relocation.

Riverfront Development –

-      Pilings for the Riverfront parking garage are going in the ground this month, and the garage will be complete within six months.  Completely new infrastructure (water and sewer) are being installed to the property.  The bulkhead along the river is currently being restored and a new boardwalk/pathway will soon be constructed along the riverfront.  Front Street will be fully connected through the property, Dock Street will be constructed between Front Street and the River, and new street parking and site landscaping will be complete by Spring 2011.  A Request for Proposals from developers is being finalized through a consulting firm, and will be ready for distribution within weeks. 

The Point the Beachfront Promenade –

-      The City and the State of Mississippi are currently negotiating with Northrop Grumman to acquire The Point property.  The Secretary of State’s office has been extremely supportive of this effort.  The City has approximately $1.1M in funding for development of The Point Park, as well as additional grant funding to acquire nearby property to incorporate into the park. 

-      The new beach should be complete by Summer 2010. 

-      The City has obtained $1.3M in grant funding for the Beachfront Promenade and is actively working on additional funds.  The complete project will cost close to $4M.  The project will be constructed in phases, and the City is currently selecting a new engineering firm to complete the final design prior to putting the project out to bid.  The first phase of the construction will go out to bid this year.

Lowry Island –

-      Water and sewer lines are currently being routed to the island which will support future development (public marina, residential, commercial).

Uniform Development Ordinance –

-      The City is working with a consulting firm to complete a Uniform Development Ordinance.  This new ordinance will be a comprehensive overhaul of all zoning, land development regulations, code enforcement and planning board procedures.  It should be ready for adoption Fall 2010.

On Thursday, March 18, the City of Pascagoula’s Main Street Department will be hosting the Annual Children’s Easter Parade for around 300 children ages six and under.  Lining-up at 9 a.m. in front of the Downtown Library, the parade will stroll west at 9:30 a.m. across Pascagoula Street, along the north side of Delmas Avenue, where it will take a little bunny hop across the road at Magnolia Street to head back down the south side of Delmas Ave. to the Library. 

Everybody loves a parade including the Easter Bunny, who will be joining the children as they make their way down the street receiving candy and goodies from the “Bunny Businesses” along Delmas Avenue and the Downtown area.

“We’re thrilled the Easter Bunny will be joining us again this year,” said Rebecca Davis, Main Street/Special Events Manager.  “It wouldn’t be an Easter Parade without our bunny tailed friend and the children will be so excited to see him.”   

For more information about the parade, please call Rebecca Davis at (228) 938-6604 or Jennifer Flanagan at (228) 938-2352.

“This façade program is a great way for businesses to update their exterior and get more bang for their buck,” said Harry Schmidt, Director of Community Development.  “The City will provide 60 percent of the eligible project cost up to a maximum contribution of $10,000, in addition to providing design consultation and project engineering.” 

Beginning Jan. 29 through March 1, 2010, the City will be accepting grant applications for façade improvements.  Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis in the Spring.  Approximately 10 grants will be awarded depending of the scope of each project. 

Grant dollars will be available for projects addressing exterior walls facing public streets, awnings or canopies, exterior lighting and hanging signs, installation or repair to storefront doors, windows, parapets or cornices, and the removal of finishes or materials not matching the historical character of the City.   

Applications received will be ranked for funding according to the level of architectural preservation and impact on the streetscape.  Eligible buildings must be located within the Downtown Façade District bounded by Krebs Avenue, Pascagoula Street, Convent Avenue, and the Pascagoula River.  The City hopes to fund additional façade grant opportunities in other neighborhoods within the City in upcoming years.       

Awarded funds will be for commercial purposes on buildings offering retail, restaurants, service establishments or offices.  Applicants must also be up to date on all City taxes, must comply with all state and local licensing and permitting laws, and must sign a façade easement allowing for the construction and agreeing to maintain the façade improvement for five years once completed.             

Grant applications are available here on the website and also at City Hall, Community Development, and the Main Street office all located in Downtown Pascagoula.

Areas of focus for the study will be to determine where customers are coming from and the potential to recruit additional retail to Pascagoula.  Detail implementation strategies and actions will be established to reach new customers, investors, and visitors. “We are thrilled to be working with Arnett Muldrow & Associates once again.  They came to our City once before through the Mississippi Main Street Association and helped us create a new City logo and the ‘We Are Pascagoula’ brand,” said Rebecca Davis, Main Street/Special Events Manager.

 At the end of the three-month study period the City of Pascagoula will have new tools and objectives for strengthening downtown and the creation of economic development opportunities. “We will be given a retail marketing plan that will help us with promotions because getting the word out can be as important as creating the plan,” added Davis.  The Pascagoula City Council voted to hire Arnett Muldrow & Associates, Ltd. during the Tues., Dec. 1, 2009 Council meeting and plan to have the study begin in early 2010.

“This is a special night,” said Mayor Robert Maxwell.  “It’s not to often we get to honor one of our own.”

Councilman Jim Milstead presented the proclamation saying, “Robert and I go way back to times when he did things for this community while not serving on the Council and we want to congratulate him for his years of service to Pascagoula.”

Councilman Stallworth accepted the proclamation saying, “The first thing I believe in is doing your job and being willing to help others.  We have always worked together and we wouldn’t be where we are without each other.  Thank you for being my friends.” 

Joining Councilman Stallworth during this special night was his wife Marcia and four of their seven children.

 Pascagoula – The City of Pascagoula is reopening Delmas Avenue from Pascagoula Street to Canty Street to vehicular traffic on Friday, Jan. 15. The City plans to completely reopen Delmas by Fri., Jan. 22.

 As work continues, all drivers are encouraged to utilize one of the seven surrounding parking lots to access the businesses and the City’s Utility Department.   “While Delmas Ave. has been closed to vehicular traffic the sidewalks have remained open for foot traffic,” said Rebecca Davis, Main Street/Special Events Manager.  “All the businesses along Delmas are accessible within minutes of the surrounding parking lots.” 

  Until the complete reopening, the seven parking lots serving Delmas Ave. are located in the following locations (downtown parking): 

• South side of Krebs from Magnolia to Pascagoula
• East side of Pascagoula at the corner of Pascagoula and Krebs
• East side of Magnolia at the corner of Magnolia and Yon
• East side of Magnolia between Delmas and Watts
• South side of Delmas at the corner of Delmas and Magnolia
• West side of Canty at the corner of Canty and Watts
• East side of Canty at the corner of Canty and Watts

All drivers are asked to use caution around these construction sites.  Pay special attention to traffic signs, road workers and heavy equipment near the side of the road.

 “It is important for everyone in our community to know about the services available to them,” said Anna Raiola, Pascagoula Police Department Administrative Assistant.  “This open house will help facilitate a two-way conversation with members of our Hispanic population.”

The Pascagoula Police Department has distributed flyers to the “Open House” throughout the city’s Hispanic community.  For more information, contact Anna Raiola with the Pascagoula Police Department at 228-938-6671.