Ridgeland Keeping Mississippi Beautiful
RIDGELAND HONORED AT THE KEEP MISSISSIPPI BEAUTIFUL AWARDS LUNCHEON
RIDGELAND— During the awards luncheon on April 22, the City of Ridgeland was honored to receive two prestigious awards. The 125th anniversary pecan tree project was recognized in first place for Partnership and Local Government, and the Ridgeland Wildflower Field & Art Park brought home first place for the Wildflower Trails of Mississippi.
The Ridgeland Wildflower Field & Art Park is located just off the interstate in Ridgeland at 411 West Jackson Street and has been a local favorite for residents and visitors. “The gardens are a lab of sorts, where residents can observe the plants and get ideas for their yard. Tim Taylor designed and helped us build the walking trail and gardens, where something different blooms all the time. People also come to the garden to birdwatch and to see the butterflies. We have created a real habitat for them in the garden,” said Jan Richardson, Chair of the Keep Ridgeland Beautiful Committee.
The City would like to congratulate two Keep Ridgeland Beautiful members on their recognition. Kenya Rachal received the Ron Aldridge Volunteer Award, and Lea Anne Stacy was honored with the Louise Godwin Award. “We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our Keep Ridgeland Beautiful Committee members, who help maintain our City’s beauty,” said Mayor Gene McGee.
Lastly, the City was honored to be recognized for the 125th anniversary pecan tree project. In celebration of Ridgeland’s anniversary year, the pecan tree was officially designated as the City’s tree, honoring the community’s deep agricultural roots and long-standing connection to the natural landscape.
Following the designation, the pecan tree quickly became a source of inspiration. The Ridgeland History Trail team commemorated its agricultural significance with a new marker along the trail, while the City’s anniversary planning committee incorporated it into milestone celebrations. Ridgeland’s First Lady, Jane McGee, proposed a beautification project that brought the pecan tree to life across the cityscape—44 traffic signal boxes were transformed with custom artwork depicting the tree, created by Think Creative Intelligence. The signal boxes were wrapped in vibrant, pecan tree-themed artwork, adding color and character to street corners throughout the City.
This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, including Michael Baker International, Costco, American Family Clinic, Butler Snow, C Spire, Guaranty Bank, Harper Raines Knight & Company, State Farm – John Dorsa, Barnett’s Body Shop, Mills Scanlon Dye & Pittman, Amerigo, Fleet Feet, Martinson’s Garden Works, Venable Glass Services, Speed Commercial Real Estate, Morris Oil – Sprint Mart, Exell, Community Bank, Watkins Construction, Bank Plus, Dean Architecture, Horne, Patty Peck Honda, MS Federal Credit Union, Trustmark, Harmony Dental, Burns Cooley Dennis, Inc., Mercedes, Killebrew Psychological Services, Kathryn’s Steakhouse, Keesler Federal Credit Union, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Entergy, Northpark, Skeen Plumbing & Gas Wells, Marble & Hurst, Two Men & A Truck, Walmart, and Citizens Bank.
Special thanks to Jane McGee, Lisa Walters, Think Creative Intelligence, and Hederman Printing for leading and executing this project. “We are excited to be a part of the Ridgeland community. From the City website to the special projects, working hand-in-hand with our neighbors is a joy. We are truly blessed,” stated Bryan Carter, CEO of Think Creative Intelligence.
