This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

t
Waller to lead Buccaneer Park dedication ceremonies Jan. 9
P were announced Monday to hold official state iedi .on ceremonies for Buccaneer State Park Jan. 9 although the park won’t officially open to the public until sometime later next Spring.
Mississippi Park Commission member Perry Gibson, who with the commission’s public affairs director Ken Jones conducted Monday’s press briefing at the Wheel Inn, explained the early dedication service was being held in recognition of outgoing Governor William Waller’s contribution to the state park system.
“Buccaneer,” said Gibson, “is the first state park created in the Gulf Coast area since the late 1930’s.”
The last, he added, was Magnolia State Park in Ocean Springs, which was later deeded to the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Buccaneer encompasses 393 acres of pine and live oak woods nestled across the natural beach of the Mississippi Sou? The park is incorporated into the city limits of Wa\ id, a move that was taken to secure a 99^year lease on the land, and is within five miles of Bay St. Louis.
Gibson said Monday that January’s dedication ceremonies will mark completion of the first phase of ievelopment for the park which began 18 months ago and has totaled nearly $2 million.
Money for the impressive park development was created by the Mississippi legislature in 1972 when $25 million was appropriated for state park improvements. Included in this grant, Gibson said, was $3 million for creation of a Gulf Coast park.
Later, Gibson said, a park commission site selection committee narrowed its choices down to two sites-Edgewater Park and the Waveland site, then known as Jackson Ridge.
“The Waveland site was considered more suitable,” libson said, “due to the need for camping facilities.”
“We Care” funds and matching money from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. The rest of the park land is made up of 16th section land.
Contracts for utilities and the first buildings were let in June, 1974 to Amco Construction Company of Bay St. Louis and Gregory Construction Company of Gulfport. Bay St Louis architect Fred Wagner was commissioned to design the buildings and the proposed “wave pool”. The commission selected Batson & Batson Engineers of Picayune for all engineering work.
The main campground will offer 104 class A camp pads with complete electrical, water and sewage hookups as well as individual picnic tables and benches. There are also three bathhouses, two picnic pavilions with restrooms and a comfort station.
The camping spurs surround the main recreation pavilion building, which houses an enclosed laundromat and complete camp store. A large circular wade pool for small children, basketball and lighted tennis courts and a shuffleboard court are also available free of charge to overnight guests.
Plans are to advertise for an Olympic size pool in January.
A total of 150 acres will be developed under the present contract.
Gibson and park manager Stan Weidman said that finishing touches still needed to be completed by contractors before the park could be opened to the public, but: that every effort was being made to ensure that the park would be open to visitors by March.
Three groups have already inquired about early Spring arrivals, Weidman said/
Although much of the original $3 million designated for the park has been either spent or budgeted, Gibson said it
Scenic picnic 3.TC3.	Spanish moss hangs gracefully over the day use picnic area.
profits were returned to the park from annual visitors.
“There is about 80 acres of marsh land,” Gibson said, “that we hope will later be dredged so scenic canals can be constructed.
Ceremonies will begin Jan. 9 with a 2 p.m. concert by the
Pearls. A parade will follow into the park followed dedication ceremonies at 2:30 p.m.
Gibson said Gov.-elect Cliff Finch, and other and local officials had been invited to attend, as v,