NATCHEZ — Recreation is on the forefront of city and county official’s minds, and an opportunity has presented itself that may or not be seized.

For 20 years former mayor Tony Byrne has eyed the Inglewood property on John R. Junkin Drive that backs up to Duncan Park as an avenue for recreation expansion.

“I’ve pitched it to every mayor that has followed me in office and every recreation director,” Byrne said.

And now it’s for sale.

The 20-some acres of land could be used to expand Duncan Park, Byrne said.

“I would hate to see it developed when it should belong to Duncan Park,” Byrne said.

He said nine more holes of golf could be added to Duncan Park eventually, when enough money builds back up after the initial purchase.

In the meantime, it could be used as walking trails.

Harrington Realty’s Caroline Harrington said the property was listed on Oct. 3 and the asking price is $989,000.

“It’s an excellent price,” she said. “And certainly a great thing for the city to acquire since it’s right there next to the golf course. It’s loaded with beautiful oak trees.”

Mayor Jake Middleton, who is pushing for more recreation and advocating a joint city and county venture, had only recently learned of the sale of the property.

“I think that’s something we would give consideration,” he said.

But it would also be something to be discussed with county officials, and there are several questions to be asked, Middleton said.

“Do we want to expand Duncan Park?” he said.

His ideas right now center on the possible purchase of the Belwood property by the port and developing it into a multi-field complex for baseball and soccer.

And Adams County Board of Supervisors President Henry Watts has an idea that pares Middleton’s down quite a bit.

“I think right now, Supervisor Watts and I — our ideas on what we need are a little apart,” Middleton said. “Neither of us are right or wrong.”

But as for right now, Middleton said he can’t say either way what he’d like to do about Inglewood.

“I don’t know whether or not that would be a good investment,” he said.

Alderman Dan Dillard, who serves as recreation chair for the board, said he would look into it more, but right now the price is a touch high.

“It sounds like it would be something to consider, but at that price it seems that someone has a higher value on it than I do,” he said. “That’s just the raw cost of the land and then put that much more in to develop it.

“That sounds a little high to me for 20 acres.”