This month, Ridgeland was awarded $140,000 from the state to improve the stormwater drainage system that stems off Interstate 95 and cuts through the small town, from the highway to Main Street.
Six-foot piping will be installed and covered with decorative walking paths that will connect Main Street -- and downtown Ridgeland -- to the nature center, a popular pondfront eatery and a host of hotels and fast food joints.
"It'll be kind of like a long, linear park with a serpentine path to add some interest," said Town Administrator Jason Taylor. "It will be much more aesthetically attractive and will enhance the drainage in the ditch."
The ditches-to-walking paths idea is part of the town's expansive streetscape project that has unfolded in pieces over the last three years.
The town has built public squares, each with an accent: a gazebo, an ornate clock and a large bronze tortoise. Half of the town's sidewalks are made of new red brick and the other half are in the works. About $50,000 worth of Victorian-style street lamps are going up, the only style street lamp allowed within town limits.
The path winds around the pond behind Jasper's Porch restaurant and several boardwalks break off into the surrounding wetlands, with trees, vegetation and land formations marked with explanatory plaques and kiosks. With the new connectors, the natural space will connect directly to downtown and several area businesses.
"Last year we had over 400 out-of-town visitors," said Delia Caskey, director of the nature center. "Back when the hurricanes were bad we had a lot of visitors from Florida and they said it was so relaxing to get their mind off of their situation."