“We definitely see it’s a communitywide valuable asset to have exercise programs...” Healthy Life
They’re also working to add bike and pedestrian lanes throughout the city with the help of grants from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Memphis Shara Clark Metropolitan Planning Organization, and other sources. “What we’re doing now There’s a lot to do in Southaven to stay fit is, because the past development didn’t and active at any age, and new amenities necessarily encourage it, we’re going are in the works to allow easier access to back and retrofitting a lot of the existing local parks and give runners, cyclists, and roadways to narrow down the vehicular pedestrians new ways to enjoy the area. lanes and add in bike and pedestrian lanes,” Whitney Cook, Director of Planning and says Cook. “We’ve got a phasing plan Development for the City of Southaven, is where we’re starting in some of the older an avid runner, and she’s most excited to subdivisions north of Goodman Road, and break ground on the planned 4-mile trail we’re going to find some connectivity to the that’s set to connect Snowden Grove and southern side once we get those in place.” The city of Southaven is home to 20 Central Park. “We initiated a plan a few years back neighborhood parks with more than 200 — the city-wide pedestrian plan — that acres of parkland, and Cook says among reflects an overall desire of the city to put those is a hidden gem — Jim Saucier Park. bike paths, running paths, and pedestrian “It’s a park system right here next to city hall. paths throughout the city,” Cook says. It has a quarter-mile running ring around “We’re trying to connect the park systems it, and the city sponsored fitness stops all and all of the other recreational areas that the way around it,” she says. “There are we’ve got via bike trails and pedestrian 20-some-odd fitness stops — areas for trails. It’s very exciting. You’ll be able to get everything from bench pressing to lateral out and run and bike and get to the other lifts to quads. It’s a full workout system recreational amenities.” The 4-mile trail is right here all around the park, but it’s very part of this plan, and Cook says the city is underutilized. It’s a beautiful setting, and aiming to start construction on the project it has a lot of exercise equipment on site that’s free to the public.” this fall.
Staying Active in Southaven
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Southaven is also home to a nine-hole golf course at the corner of Stateline Road and Swinnea, an 18-hole disc golf course in Central Park, the Snowden Grove Baseball Complex, Greenbrook Softball Complex, and other sports facilities, including an eight-field soccer complex, and a fourfield football complex. And there’s the Southaven Skate Park, which serves as a skateboarding park but also boasts an inline hockey rink. The city runs seasonal recreational programs for youth and adults, including baseball, cheerleading, football, indoor soccer, soccer, and softball. Senior services programs are available to give seniors an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, including aerobics, cards, dance classes, dinners, and field trips. And the Field of Dreams youth baseball program allows disabled youth to play baseball on a field with a rubberized surface. “We definitely see it’s a communitywide valuable asset to have exercise programs and recreational facilities, and we’re pushing to get as many out there as we can,” Cook says. “You should start seeing some action on the ground this year.”