NATCHEZ &045;&045; Millicent Mayo is tired of seeing tourists wandering aimlessly downtown, wondering where to go for certain conveniences and attractions.

&uot;They just look … lost,&uot; Mayo said.

She believes, too, more exercisers would come downtown for their daily walks if the area featured markers with color-coded, measured-off walking routes printed on them.

So the concerned citizen brought her idea to the Community Alliance.

The alliance is a group of key area leaders meeting every two months to inform themselves on community happenings and brainstorm solutions to problems.

Her fellow members of the alliance said they’ll look into the possibility of that and other ways to direct the walking public around downtown.

For example, National Park Service official Jim Heaney said funding could be available to place outdoor exhibits or kiosks around downtown to mark historic sites for visitors.

So the whole family can enjoy downtown, Mayo said she would like to see the city place swings in Memorial Park so some family members can sit and enjoy the park while others stroll around downtown.

Beyond just downtown, city Recreation Director Ralph Tedder said he would like to see brochures printed to show the public where other walking trails are located in the area, such as the Riverwalk in Vidalia.

And City Engineer David Gardner said he wants to explore the possibility of getting a Rails to Trails grant to transform railroad beds into such trails.

During the meeting, held at the convention center, the alliance also discussed another downtown topic &045;&045; that of the old First Baptist Church building, which they said is deteriorating on Main Street. The building’s out-of-town owner hasn’t done anything to maintain the building, which is in danger of falling apart due to roof leaks, said Mimi Miller, director of preservation and education for the Historic Natchez Foundation.

Miller said she would contact the city today about the possibility of declaring the long-vacant building a case &uot;demolition by neglect.&uot;

With that designation, the city could fine the owner for every day the building lies neglected.