Exhaustive research for the latest community story can be tough — long, sunset walks high above the banks of the Mississippi River, sniffs and nudges from new friends, fresh air.

I should be paid more!

OK, OK, work on this latest story isn’t so bad; in fact it’s been quite nice.

On a quest to find local residents walking their dogs along the new Natchez Trails Project for a story I won’t fully explain right now, I’ve assigned myself to head to the bluff each night this week.

So far, I haven’t found many dogs, but I have found Natchez.

Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., the bluff trail is active.

Seeing, from a distance, young mothers pushing strollers while wearing running gear and middle-aged women moving at a steady clip reminds me of recreation areas I’ve seen and often envied in larger cities.

But take a few steps closer and you remember, it’s Natchez. The stereotypical silhouettes become faces you know, names you can call and people you at least think you’ve met.

It’s easy enough to pick out at least one tourist on every trip, but they are as much a part of our community as anyone.

The Natchez bluff has long been a gathering place, a microcosm of our society. Longtime Natchezians of every race tell stories of going to the bluff with their families.

But the bluff seems more alive than ever now.

Bright white sidewalks and a much nicer fence certainly help the appeal of the place. The historical markers of the Trails project make it obvious that pre-planning went into this space.

But what matters most are the questions bluff walkers are asking and the comments they are making.

“Do you know what time the sun sets today,” I was asked as I passed.

Or, there’s the encouraging comment I overheard from one walker to another who had just arrived at the top of Roth Hill, a bit out of breath, “You’re stronger than me; I haven’t talked myself into trying that walk yet.”

There are important scenes that matter too, like the Natchez High graduate-to-be who stood in cap and gown at the gazebo as a portrait photographer snapped away or the bride and groom who said “I do.”

Life is happening every night on the bluffs of the Mississippi River where the most important question is about the sunset.

It’s never been more obvious that Natchez needs that master riverfront development plan we’ve all talked about for years.

Local attorneys Walter Brown and Marion Smith brought it up most recently, asking the Natchez Board of Aldermen to abandon plans to bring a casino to Roth Hill and instead focus on developing the area under the bluff with a family-friendly park.

Parks don’t pay taxes, that’s true. But the people they attract will.

With more growth, a few nice shops and food stands could crop up in the area around the bluff, sparking those tax-paying businesses.

If city leaders refuse to recognize the power and need on the bluff and under it, the dog walkers, stroller pushers, fitness seekers and sunset watchers among us must do it for them.

That space and the pleasure it brings is a precious resource we can’t afford to lose.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She is still hoping to talk to area residents who enjoy walking their dog along the bluff, and she can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.