NATCHEZ — Now that Gov. Phil Bryant has signed off on Senate Bill 2275 that allows the City of Natchez to transfer ownership of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center to the National Park Service, work is underway to make the transition, officials said.

Natchez has been working to transfer ownership of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center to the National Park Service for several years to relieve the city of the financial burden of operation and upkeep on the building at 640 S. Canal St., but the transfer required legislative approval.

The measure also includes transfer of “certain land and improvements associated with the site of  the historic Forks of the Road Slave Market …”

Kathleen Bond, superintendent of the Natchez National Historical Park, said the bill being signed in to law on March 22 is good news, but more work must be done.

“It is a long and complicated process,” Bond said, “and I am glad for any step that brings us a step closer to clarity.”

Bond said the next step for her is to travel to Atlanta this week to meet with the National Park Service’s regional director to discuss various aspects of the project so she can have a better understanding of the path and the timeline on the ownership transfer.

“All the resources I need hopefully will be there (in Atlanta),” Bond said, “and we can come up with a clear understanding.”

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell said the legislation is great news for the City of Natchez. The legislation, however, only gives the City of Natchez the authority to transfer ownership a step that still must be completed.

“There is not a state statute that exists that allowed us to give the visitors center to the National Park Service,” Grennell said. “So, what we did was we requested a local and private legislation to grant us the authority to be able to give city property to the National Park Service.”

Grennell said he anticipates the transfer of ownership to be completed by June or July.

“Of course, there is a lot of legal paperwork that has to be done,” Grennell said, “but at least now we have the authority to be able to go ahead on and get it transferred over … It is wonderful for the City because it takes a major burden off of us.”

Grennell said the 20-year-old facility needs proper maintenance.

“It is time for some major infrastructure improvements,” Grennell said. “The National Park Service is the perfect owner for that facility, because they can actually take it to a new level in terms of making it a great interpretive center for the city of Natchez, and Kathleen has some plans for that center.”

Bond agrees that the transfer is good for the City and the National Park Service.

“It is an exciting transition for Natchez,” Bond said. “I hope that it is going to mean really good things for the community, and I look forward to working with our great partners.”

Proud to Take a Stand

While the ownership transfer measure has received the Bryant’s signature, a general bond bill, Senate Bill 3065 that includes funding for several projects throughout the state, is still awaiting the governor’s signature.

Stripped from that bill was $6 million in funding for renovation of the Margaret Martin Center in Natchez.

Still included in the bill, however, is $38,340 for a “Proud to Take a Stand” monument to be constructed on the grounds of the Natchez City Auditorium.

The monument will memorialize individuals who were illegally imprisoned for civil rights protests in Natchez in 1965 in an incident that has come to be known as the Parchman Ordeal.

Grennell said he is pleased to hear funding for the Proud to Take a Stand monument is included in the bill.

“It put a smile on my face when I heard the news,” Grennell said. “I’m excited, because I am ready to move forward with that particular project … I want to see that in place by the end of this year.”