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Fossils and other science assets of the city will soon be coming to life downtown in new ways, thanks to a grant from Main Street America.
Main Street Columbus announced Wednesday that it was selected for the national organization’s $12,500 Science Discovery on Main Street grant, which it will use to research science assets of the city that it can highlight with programs and events – including the city’s ongoing fossil park project along the Luxapalila Creek in East Columbus at Propst Park.
“I just thought it would be a great opportunity … for Main Street to get on board and promote something that our city is working so hard to develop, and we could take advantage of it for a new promotion downtown, as well,” said Barbara Bigelow, executive director for Main Street Columbus.
Luxapalila Creek was covered by an ancient estuary more than 80 million years ago, resulting in a deposit full of fossils from different types of environments in the creek’s bank. Fossils found at the creek have included everything from shark teeth to shells, crabs, reptile bones and plant remains. Bones of two new dinosaurs, called ornithomimosaurs, were also found along the Luxapalila in 2022.
The city council gave the green light in November to move forward with applying for grants to fund the development of a fossil park in the area. To create the park, the city would need to purchase roughly 34 acres along both sides of the creek, along with constructing concrete steps and an education pavilion in the area, City Grant Writer and Administrator Susan Wilder told The Dispatch in November.
An appraisal of the land and engineering designs from Neel-Schaffer are both due in the next few weeks, Wilder told The Dispatch on Wednesday, giving the city hard numbers on the cost of the park’s creation. Once those are in, Wilder will continue applying for other grants and exploring other fundraising avenues for the park’s development.
However, Wilder said the Science Discovery on Main Street grant could help to generate buzz for both downtown and the fossil park, which could help attract funding from outside sources.
Keith Gaskin
“This grant will open new doors of opportunity to highlight the uniqueness of our city through science-centered events,” Mayor Keith Gaskin said in a Wednesday press release. “I am proud of this collaboration with Main Street America and Main Street Columbus and what it will mean to our citizens and visitors. It is not surprising to me that out of all the cities in Mississippi, Columbus was selected for this specific grant. In my opinion, the Cretaceous Fossil Park project on the Luxapalila Creek at Propst Park is a national treasure and this grant will help us share the news with a larger audience.”
Main Street Columbus will use the money to meet with scientific experts and community members over the next six months, Wilder said. That research can then be used to guide future events and programs highlighting local science assets like unique natural phenomena, geographical features, historically significant locations in science and more.
Receiving the grant, Wilder said, also opens the door for Main Street Columbus to apply for implementation grants to fund those science-themed programs and events down the road.
One idea Wilder suggested in the city’s grant application, she said, was a celebration of National Fossil Day to highlight the local fossils and downtown area at the same time.
“National Fossil Day is the second Wednesday of October every year,” Wilder said. “So in the grant, we talked about hosting a Find a Fossil event downtown, where we could hide pictures of fossils around the businesses downtown and participants could get a sheet with all the fossils on there. … That was just an idea.”
Main Street Columbus was one of 12 Main Street organizations nationwide that were selected for the grant from the national organization.
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