When the day comes to open the Lower Mississippi River Museum and Interpretive Center on the MV Mississippi IV and the transportation museum across Levee Street in the old depot, a focus should be placed on how the area around those facilities looks.

We expect those two attractions to be “can’t miss” stops for visitors to our city. Those visitors also will marvel at the floodwall murals and see a respite for themselves — and another activity for children — at the Art Park at Catfish Row. Created in 2008 by the Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg, the park cost $230,000, with the money and equipment donated or raised through fundraisers. The agreement between the JA and the City of Vicksburg called for JA to build the park and the city to maintain it.

Eight months ago, litter covered the ground, a 3-inch metal pipe jutted from a section of hill children used for sliding and a smaller plastic pipe protruded from where children sat to slide down the hill. The JA said several people who had donated to the park’s construction told them the park looked terrible. A playground liaison position was created so the JA and city could better communicate when problems arose at the park.

Happily, the park is looking better, thanks to the persistence of the JA and work by the city’s landscaping department. The protruding pipes are now blocked by fencing and a garden of herbs and butterflies has been added as another attraction.

We commend the JA for diagnosing a problem and the city for addressing it in a timely manner. We also urge the residents of this city to take it upon themselves to help beautify sullied areas. Pick up some trash, or at least when a problem is discovered, report it.

The art park area of downtown will play in perfectly with the museum and interpretive center. Keeping it clean, safe and operational will only enhance our visitors’ experiences in the city.

Keep it looking beautiful.