WALNUT – The town of Walnut will sell barbeque plates beginning Saturday, May 1, at 9 a.m. at the Miss. 15- U. S. 72 intersection as a fund raiser for the town’s planned Kids Park.

The fundraiser will last “until we run out of food. We expect a good response from the community, so anyone wanting something should be there as early as possible,” said Town Alderman Greg James, who is handling publicity for the event.

Plates and sandwiches of barbeque will be cooked by volunteer firefighters. Beans and slaw accompany each plate. Soft drinks may be purchased at the intersection.

All proceeds from the sale will go toward construction of the park, which is being financed by a combination of a $100,000 CDBG self-help grant through the State of Mississippi, and donations from area citizens. About $50,000 will be needed beyond the grant for construction of the facility. At least half of that amount can be in-kind funds – donations and volunteer labor.

The barbeque event is not the only fundraiser the town is holding to help raise local funds for the park, which is to be built with volunteer labor later this year.

The town is also selling bricks to be placed at the park site. A 4” x 8” brick with three lines of type is $35, while an 8”x8” brick with four lines of type is $50.

Local funds from both projects – as well as a previously–held cakewalk and auction -- will be matched with a recently-received grant for construction of the park.

Those wishing to make a donation can do so into a special account at the Peoples Bank--c/o Walnut Playground, P.O. Box 38 Walnut, MS 38663.

About $6,000 in donations has been received, James said Monday afternoon.

The money-raising projects have been well-received, James said.

“Every meeting we’ve had about the park has been a full house. The community is very into this, and it’s exciting to see it come together. The park project has been getting 500 hits a week on our Facebook page,” James said.

James said the more money the community raises in donation, the more facilities can be constructed at the park.

Although the basic plan of the park is set, several peripheral options that could be included, depending on how much money is raised, include:

--A walking track around the facility, “so parents can whittle away their time as their kids play in the park.”

--Expanding the pavilion.

--Adding bathrooms.

--Lighting the new tennis courts.

--Converting the old tennis courts to basketball courts.

In late March, Dennis Wille, a designer with Leathers & Associates of Ithaca, N.Y. unveiled the schematic design of the new Walnut Park to be built by volunteers in June.

The park will be similar to Kidz World in Ripley and set to be located next to the Walnut Swimming Pool.

Wille formed the design based on ideas from hundreds of youngsters in the North Tippah School District. Ideas were submitted by K – sixth grade students at Walnut, Falkner and Chalybeate schools.

Walnut Mayor Vicki Skinner put the construction of a park on her agenda when she was elected in 2009.