Work on a memorial for a former city landscape supervisor who died in January is expected to begin in October in the area south of the Art Park at Catfish Row.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen in February approved planting a tree at Catfish Row in Riley Harper’s memory and on Monday amended the request to include several trees and a plaque.

Rosalie Theobald, former longtime director of Vicksburg Main Street and one of Harper’s friends, said friends raised about $500 for the work at Catfish Row.

Harper, a Vicksburg native and landscape supervisor for the City of Vicksburg, died at 58.

City landscape director Jeff Richardson said after Monday’s City Board meeting that three pin oaks, a tree that can grow up to 70 feet tall, will be planted on a small hill south of the Art Park.

“Faulk Nursery planted three trees in the park earlier, but they died,” Richardson said. “We’re going to wait until October when it’s cooler and plant the new trees.”

Besides the plaque, she said, the group was looking at a possible garden built around the trees, depending on the space available.