The Vicksburg Main Street Program along with the city of Vicksburg and multiple other organizations announced May as National Preservation Month and Bike Month in Vicksburg.

Vicksburg Main Street executive director Kim Hopkins and assistant director Rebecca Sigh received a proclamation from Mayor George Flaggs Jr. and Aldermen Michael Mayfield and Willis Thompson pronouncing both months would be observed during May in Vicksburg.

Hopkins said Preservation Month is important to Vicksburg because of the city’s rich history, and she said it is important to recognize and celebrate that history, which has shaped the community.

“Preservation plays a huge role in the success of our downtown and we want to make that known throughout our community and encourage others to reach out and learn more about our history,” Hopkins said.

May was named National Preservation month across the country by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and this year’s theme is “This Place Matters.”

“The theme ‘This Place Matters’ is about telling the story of places that matter within your own community,” Hopkins said.

Sharing why a place matters starts a conversation about the unique places that can be found in the community and creates understanding for preserving those places, she said.

Locally Hopkins is encouraging the public to take photos outside of historic buildings or any sentimental place in town and post the picture to social media with the hashtag #ThisPlaceMatters and tagging Vicksburg Main Street to track all the places that matter in Vicksburg.

Hopkins used the Southern Cultural Heritage Center as an example because so many went to school there or got married there making it a special place for many.

“By doing this we are able to show how historic our town is and that we show pride in Vicksburg,” Hopkins said.

She also has signs, buttons and flyers she is giving away to promote preservation.

“We work to promote downtown with events and festivals, but we promote in order to preserve,” Hopkins said. “We have the past, present and future in our downtown and it’s our job to ensure we protect, preserve and enhance, so that future generations will be able to come downtown and enjoy the unique atmosphere, created by our historic structures and timeless architecture.”

Bike Month is being celebrated in May as well, and she said Friday, May 20, is Bike to Work Day.

Hopkins said in March 2015, Flaggs committed to the “Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets,” which is a nationwide challenge through the U.S. Department of Transportation to make city streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians. She said the proclamation shows the board of mayor and aldermen understand the economic and health impacts of cycling.

“By creating a bicycling-friendly community it shows to improve citizens’ health, well-being, and quality of life, growing the economy of Vicksburg, attracting tourism dollars, improving traffic safety, supporting student learning outcomes, and reducing pollution, congestion, and wear and tear on our streets and roads,” Hopkins said.

Bike riding is promoted through the local Main Street program partially because of the annual fall fundraiser for the organization called Bricks and Spokes where participants ride their bikes throughout downtown, around the city and even into Louisiana. This year’s fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1.