NATCHEZ — While Natchez leaders debate over how to improve the area’s recreational facilities, several communities have been able to put aside their differences to make their recreation dreams a reality.

Leaders in the communities who have done so say it takes much difficult work and can take time. One such example is right across the river in Vidalia.

Construction began in 2011 on the Vidalia Recreation Complex, just two years after Adams County voters took to the ballots and approved by 78 percent the construction of a recreation complex not to exceed $5.4 million. The ballot initiative was a non-binding referendum.

For several years the plan has stalled and only recently has the swimming pool, part of the original recreation plan, started coming together, albeit more than $400,000 over budget.

Some Natchez aldermen have proposed giving the bean field, where construction of the original recreation complex was planned, to the school district.

That lingering possibility has caused questions to exist as to whether the baseball and softball fields get built at all.

In Vidalia, Parks and Recreation Director Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said debates and disagreements happened during the discussion stages approximately 10 to 12 years ago, but the two sides — the Vidalia Board of Aldermen and the Concordia Parish Recreation District No. 3 Board — united around a common dream.

“We realized what a positive it was, and we got it done,” Hoffpauir said. “That complex could not have been built without both parties taking on responsibility for building it, and more importantly, responsibility for it after it got built.

“With that, we have a great product to offer to our kids in Vidalia, the Concordia Parish Recreation District No. 3 as well as the state.”

In Adams County, more than two players are in the game to build a complex — the City of Natchez, Adams County, the Natchez-Adams School District and the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission.

The school board would like to build a new high school on the bean field site — the original recreation complex location.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said the board has not taken official action on giving the bean field to the school, but said she supports building a high school on the property. Arceneaux-Mathis said depending on how much land the school requires, a recreation complex could still be built.

“It’s a big field,” she said. “There will be room enough to do everything we want to do, if we all calm down and proceed in an orderly fashion.”

Mayor Darryl Grennell said he anticipates the school’s official request to use the bean field to build a high school would happen in October. Grennell said he has not spoken to aldermen about what action they would take.

Recreation Commission Chair Tate Hobdy has said based on the master plan that had been developed, the recreation complex was designed to take up most of the available 37 acres on the site.

The Mississippi Department of Education recommends that high school sites be allotted 25 acres plus one acre for every 100 students. The bean field does have an additional 21.4 acres that could potentially be utilized, but it would take the state Legislature’s approval.

Hobdy said if the school is built and the bean field does not have enough room for a recreation complex, he did not see a path forward to buy land and build a complex within the $2 million budget.

“The cost of the land impedes us,” Hobdy said. “That was one of the benefits to having the bean field. I am not going to say it is not discouraging, but you deal with the hand you have been dealt.”

Within that hand are other paths to improve recreation in the community, Hobdy said. The fields at Duncan Park could be improved and passive recreation avenues could be pursued such as disc golf or a community garden.

Another site that has been proposed for a recreation complex is the county-owned International Paper site. Board of Supervisors President Mike Lazarus said in his mind that property is off the table.

“That would be like saying we are giving up on industry coming here,” Lazarus said. “We are not there. We have people looking at that property all the time. Nothing has worked yet, but you can’t give up.”

Lazarus said he would like to see the city make an official decision so leaders can know whether to pursue the recreation complex or to use the pot of money to upgrade other facilities.

“We are starting our new fiscal year and we are ready,” Lazarus said. “The county set money aside, and we are ready to go.”

District 4 Supervisor Ricky Gray said the county has done what it can, and the ball on moving recreation forward is in the city’s court.

“Until the city decides what they are going to do with the bean field, and the school district decides how much land they will need for a school, there is not much the county can do,” Gray said. “If there is enough land to build a ball field there after the school is built, I think that will be the best bet. It would be win-win for everyone.”

Lazarus said since Adams County voters approved the recreation plan, the idea of a baseball complex has been done all over the region, including Vidalia, Brookhaven and St. Francisville. If the recreation complex were built, Lazarus said Natchez would be coming into the game late to attempt to attract tournaments.

“We kind of missed the boat on that in my opinion,” Lazarus said. “Fixing what we have may be a better idea at this point anyway.”

Lazarus said in under $2 million at Duncan Park you could re-sod the fields, add a sprinkler system, upgrade the bleachers and take care of the fencing. Lazarus said room could also be available for another T-ball field.

Hobdy said, however, if that option is pursued, due to the golf course, the neighborhood and lack of space for parking, Duncan Park would never be a large tournament-grade complex.

One recreation complex nearby where dirt is about to be turned in the coming months is in Vicksburg.

Vicksburg Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Graves said once ground is broken on the $20 million project, it would take approximately 12 months for completion.

For that price tag, the park will have many bells and whistles, including putt-putt golf, a splash pad, a playground, a ropes course, a 75-yard square where younger children can play football, kickball or baseball and perhaps a bungee cord jump, Graves said. The park would have approximately 11 tournament-grade fields, which could serve baseball, softball and soccer.

The project is requiring a 2 percent sales tax on restaurants and hotels expected to generate $1 million each year to pay for the project. Vicksburg leadership has said the tax would be repealed once the park is paid off.

But Graves said the one-of-a-kind park in Mississippi would enable Vicksburg to recruit tournaments along the I-20 corridor from Texas to Alabama.

“It’s going to be a game changer. It is going to put Vicksburg on the map,” Graves said. “It will be a big boom for the economy. It will fill up hotels and restaurants, and bring more amenities for the people of Vicksburg.”

Graves said the project has been ongoing for eight years between two mayors, and current Mayor George Flaggs Jr. during his first term laid some ground work to get the project complete during his second term. Graves said the city is on pace to accomplish just that.

The project only has one player — the city. Graves said the city and Warren County sometimes cooperate on recreation, but the recreation complex is entirely on the city’s shoulders.

“Everyone is working hard to try to get this taken care of,” Graves said. “The board of aldermen and the mayor are working well together to bring a real nice product to the people.”

Back in Vidalia, Hoffpauir said the main purpose for the park had been to improve recreation for local children, but it’s also been a major asset for Vidalia — and Natchez, too. Hoffpauir said during the summer the park is typically booked up and several tournaments are upcoming in October and November.

Since summer 2016, the park has drawn six state tournaments, one regional multi-state tournament and more district and sub-district tournaments than Hoffpauir could count.

“To me, that complex is the biggest advertisement to our city that we have,” he said. “And it’s been a busy, busy year. I think everyone can see what an asset it is for our surrounding areas. That’s not just Vidalia, as Natchez hotels and businesses get a lot of business when tournaments are in town.”

When the big tournaments do come through, Hoffpauir said he gets one question — how does such a small town do it.

“The answer to that question is through cooperation,” he said. “We are still a relatively young park, but the name is getting out. We will do nothing but grow.”