Ocean Springs News
MEDIA PRESS RELEASE - for immediate release
February 9th, 2010 | For details and information concerning this release, please contact Johnnie Bernhard at (228) 875-2209.
DMR Rules on East Beach Sidewalk
Ocean Springs, MS – The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Commission met today and unanimously approved the wetland permit necessary to construct a sidewalk on East Beach. Last year the city was awarded a $595,000 grant through MDOT as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. The grant will fund construction of a concrete pedestrian pathway south of the seawall six and a half feet wide, running from Holcomb to Halstead. The sidewalk will then continue on Halstead north to Brumbaugh, linking pedestrians and cyclists to Gulf Islands National Seashore.
In November 2009, the city attained a tidelands lease from the Mississippi Secretary of State granting permission to build a public project on the beach, which the SOS deems as public lands.
With input from other federal and state agencies, DMR staff found no adverse impact to wetlands, nor to the plover piper birds, who overwinter but do no nest there. They recommended that the Commission grant the permit for the proposed project.
“With this final hurdle cleared, construction may begin in March,” said Eric Meyer, Director of Community Development and Planning for the City of Ocean Springs. “We began this project with public input in April 2009 at a town hall meeting. Our goal from the beginning was to provide a safe sidewalk for pedestrians.”
