City to introduce more activities for Vicksburg’s youth

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Young people in Vicksburg are often challenged with finding something productive to do when they’re not in school. They often end up aimlessly roaming the city mall, marching through the military park or cruising the streets.

Recently the City of Vicksburg recognized this as a plea for help and is working on implementing new youth programs to accompany the current programs and offer more activities to the city’s young people.

The city is in the process of publishing a calendar of events catered to youth for the upcoming year.

“We’ve been having planning meetings, and we’ve come up with quite a few activities that will be kicking off the first of the year,” said Vickie Bailey, director of youth development for Vicksburg. “The best part is that most of the events are free.”

The city funds several parks and a splash pad for children to enjoy, but in the upcoming year, city employees will be expanding those activities hoping to attract more youth to their events.

“We have basketball leagues that will be kicking off, baseball leagues, a little football and kickball kicking off,” Bailey said. “We also have a few activities starting up such as after-school programs during school breaks, a few mini camps, and we’re merging with the Alcorn State Extension Services as well as Mississippi State’s Extension Services, as well, to do things other than recreational sports that the kids are normally interested in.”

The city’s goal in organizing more events for young people is simple.

“We want to give them something constructive to do,” she said.  

For more information on youth programs in Vicksburg, call Vickie Bailey at 601-801-3843.