Page 103 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2019

ADDS ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES
Gulfport’s new Brickyard Bayou Park at 34th Street will offer a one-of-a-kind experience to visitors of all ages. This neighborhood
was vibrant and experienced
total devastation as a result of Hurricane Katrina, making more than 300 homes uninhabitable. The neighborhood was
basically eliminated, as all
the homeowners entered a buyout program by FEMA, and the land was cleared of all structures and donated to the City of Gulfport.
One caveat to receiving the
property was that there was
never to be any enclosed structures or homes rebuilt on the property. “After 12 years of the 40 acres languishing, the City of Gulfport has chosen to repurpose it into Brickyard Bayou Park, a huge source of pride for the surrounding community,” said Gulfport’s Director
of Economic Development David Parker. “Gulfport is locating elements and attractions into the park
that are not found in any other area of the city, creating a
tourist attraction in the process.”
The park consists of
a Community Garden, the Bark Park, the Disc Golf Course, the 20-
acre bike trail and the Nature Trail and Outdoor
Classroom. All elements of the park are complete
with the nature trail being
complete by March 2019. “The new Brickyard Bayou Park has grown into a destination for tourists and a hub
of activity for local residents, adding exciting activities and offerings that are family oriented and enhance our already rich quality of life,” Parker said.
ARE NOW CONNECTED
GULFPORT CONNECT is available to download. It’s the city’s Smart Phone App that improves citizen engagement.
The GULFPORT CONNECT app allows residents
to easily report issues pertaining to City Code, City Concerns, City Parks, City Sewer, City Streets, City Traffic, City Water and Waste Pro. These service requests (including a photo and your GPS location) are easily and automatically routed to the appropriate department for a systemized and prioritized resolution with the touch of a button.
“GULFPORT CONNECT is the newest app that links our citizens to the city and gives them the power to connect instantly with city services,” Mayor Billy Hewes said. “The new GULFPORT CONNECT app will allow residents to follow the progress of their requests as well. It’s city government, in real time, right in the palm of your hand.”
The app is available through various platforms and
locations. Most users will find GULFPORT CONNECT in the Apple App Store and Google Play, but we also have made the app available through the city website at www.gulfport-ms.gov/GulfportConnect.shtml.
“Some of the great features the app houses include the ability to pay your water bill as well as the ability to view garbage and recycle pickup days, and keep up with coast social events,” Mayor Hewes added. “Lastly, the “Report It” button
is where citizens
have the power to
submit requests for
potholes, water and
sewer leaks, drainage
issues, and broken
park equipment as
well as some code
violations.”
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
January 2019 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 103
BRICKYARD BAYOU PARK
GULFPORT RESIDENTS