Parks for America

Cover

Contents

Foreword

Summary

Findings and Recommendations

Planning Elements

Parks for America

Such typical Mississippi River scenes could be viewed from the projected Great River Road following the Mississippi's course.

MISSISSIPPI

MISSISSIPPI, lying on the Gulf of Mexico and the east side of the Mississippi River, possesses significant resources for potential water-based recreation.

The State population remained static during the 1950-60 decade and the 1976 projection indicates little change—1960 population, 2,178,141; and 1976, 2,169,000. The 1960 census showed a 35.2-percent increase in the urban population accompanied by a 13.6-percent decrease in the rural population since 1950, making the State 37.7 percent urban. There is one major metropolitan area in the State, Jackson, with a 1960 population of 187,045.

Tourism, with an estimated expenditure of $369 million in 1960, ranks third in the State's economy behind agriculture and industry.

Existing recreational opportunities are served by an excellent State highway system. Four interstate routes will facilitate north-south and east-west travel and place greater demands on existing recreation areas.

Mississippi lies almost entirely in the south-central coastal plain. Water plays a major role in outdoor recreation. The Gulf of Mexico shoreline, the Mississippi and other rivers, lakes, and reservoirs offer water-based recreation and provide substantial habitat for wildlife and birds. Seventeen million acres, 57 percent of the State's total land, is covered by forest. These resources have not been fully realized to meet existing and future needs. Greatest potential is along the gulf coast and in the Tennessee Hills section in the northeast. The climate favors year-round outdoor recreation.

The Mississippi flyway affords excellent wildfowl observation as well as hunting opportunities. Fishing and hunting are of regional and State interest.

Historic and archeological sites are numerous—some of national significance. They include Indian mounds and sites connected with settlement of the Old South and the Civil War period.

This area at Bayou Casotte, near Pascagoula, Mississippi, has significance as a potential nature preserve.

EXISTING PUBLIC AREAS

NATIONAL: The National Park Service administers 2 national battlefield sites and 1 national military park which contain 1,377 acres and had a 1960 attendance of 821,700. It also administers a national parkway (partly in Alabama and Tennessee) of 20,249 acres which had an attendance of 3,479,300 in 1960. In the 6 national forests, totaling 1,134,752 acres, administered by the Forest Service there are 23 recreation areas totaling 560 acres. The 6 forests had an attendance of 610,000 in 1960. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife administers 51,691 acres in four national refuges. Four reservoirs of 75,300 water acres, with 72 access points and a 1960 attendance of 3,437,300, are operated by the Corps of Engineers.

STATE: The State of Mississippi has 4 agencies administering public recreation areas: Park Commission with 14 parks and 1 historical memorial of 13,405 acres, 1960 attendance, 920,000; Forestry Commission, 1 State forest, 1,760 acres; Game and Fish Commission, 1,307,000 acres, mostly leased; and the Highway Department, 84 roadside parks.

PRIVATE ENTERPRISE: Private recreation developments are primarily centered on facilities along the gulf coast, with limited activities elsewhere in the State.

PARK AND RELATED NEEDS

The State park system needs to improve the number, location, and quality of facilities. Emphasis should be on water-oriented recreation opportunities and statewide camping facilities. There is need to establish seashore recreation areas to assure public access to remaining available gulf coast beaches. On the local level there is a great need for recreation opportunities at city, county, and metropolitan levels, where existing facilities are limited.

State recreation areas provide 13,405 acres for 2,178,141 residents. No local nonurban recreation areas were identified. Potential areas identified on this plan total 62,575 State acreage and 15,200 local acreage. If all this acreage were acquired and developed, needs would still not be met, and these needs will be greater by 1976.

As suggested extension of the Natchez Trace Parkway northward from Mississippi would link the famous route with Great Smoky Mountains and Mammoth Cave National Parks.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Existing recreation resources and many potential areas are shown on the accompanying tabulation and map. If the following recommendations are implemented by vigorous action on the part of the agencies concerned, they may help to provide needed outdoor recreation opportunities for public use.

STATE: Expansion of the State park system to preserve valuable resources by the addition of 1 park and 1 monument, and further study of 7 areas as monuments, 8 as nature preserves, 15 as recreation areas and 1 as an interstate recreation area. Designation and protection for that portion of the Great River Road in Mississippi.

LOCAL: Establishment of 3 additional local park and further study of the establishment of 13 park and recreation areas.

Supporting recommendations include—

1. Staffing of the State Park and Recreation Agency with professional park planners to provide technical assistance for State, county, and local recreation development.

2. Improvement and expansion of waysides to meet the pleasure and safety needs of tourists and resident motorists.

3. Study of the feasibility of State or locally designated and controlled scenic and recreation roads.

4. Development of public access sites to recreational water resources including boat-launching ramps and parking areas.

5. Development of a comprehensive interpretive program within the State park system.

(Table omitted from online edition)

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Last Modified: Mon, Sep 6 2004 10:00:00 pm PDT
parks_america/mississippi.htm