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Trustmark Bank and the Hattiesburg American sponsored the 1st Annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 13, 2002 from 9 am - 1 pm. Riders, walkers, and skaters traveled from Jackson to Epley & visa versa for the event's main location @ the Clyde Depot. The Fun Day included:
David Tufts entertains the crowd at the Longleaf Trace Fun Day on his stunt cycle Saturday. Tufts uses his skills as a trick rider to educate youths about drug abuse
Contributors for the event included Moore's Bike Shop, the Newell Paper Company, AAA Ambulance, Petro-Nissan, J. Martin Auto, Rice Potato Chip Company, and the Coca Cola Company. More pictures taken at Family Fun Day: |
The crowd gathered on the Trace to watch some amazing
trick riding
Moore's Bike Shop was a major sponsor
The picnic area emptied as everyone went to watch the
show
Don't try this trick at home till you're really good!
From the April 14 Hattiesburg American:
| Stan Caldwell American Correspondent Congressman Ronnie Shows remembers exactly
where he was and how he reacted when someone first mentioned the idea of
turning an abandoned railroad into a bicycle trail.
"It was at King Lumber in Bassfield; me, Bobby Garraway and
Mayor (Buford) Blount," said Shows (D-Bassfield), who was state
highway commissioner for the Southern District at the time in the early
1990s. "We talked about it, and I said I'd love to do it."
Saturday, Shows returned to help celebrate the fruits of that idea at
the inaugural Longleaf Trace Family Fun Day. The event was organized to
highlight the trail as Mississippi's premier activity trail.
"We wanted to promote the trail and get families out on it and
have fun," said Sherry Lawrence, first vice president for Trustmark
National Bank, a top corporate sponsor of the trail. The Hattiesburg
American was a co-sponsor for the event
Since the 39-mile trail opened in 2000, Longleaf Trace has more than
fulfilled the expectations of those involved in its planning. The proof
was in the many families who braved misty, overcast conditions to take a
leisurely spin on the trail.
"We thought it would be a good way to get the family together
and check out the trail," said Deverick Jenkins of Hattiesburg, who
was with his wife, Lisa, and 10-year-old daughter Lauria. "I'd been
meaning to get out and see it, and it's great. We'll definitely be
back."
The Trace begins in Hattiesburg at West Hills Drive and ends in
Prentiss.
"I love to see the young people out here," said Freddy
Dickinson, who lives adjacent to Clyde Station, site of Saturday's
festivities. "It used to be real quiet out here. It's a lot safer
for them to be out here than on the street."
Stunt cyclist David Tufts of Hattiesburg performed for the crowd,
which included kids on Razor scooters, in-line skaters and walkers.
"We came because we like to bike and we like to have fun,"
said Liz Zachary of Hattiesburg, who was on the trail with her daughters
Coury, 11, and Kate, 8, and her nephew Richard Zachary, 11. "It's
family and it's fun, and the scenery is nice and pleasant." |
