The University of Southern Mississippi

Department of Recreational Sports

For Release                                                                                           Contact:  Tyler Williams

October 20, 2005                                                                                                     (601) 266-5408

Interview contacts

Herlon Pierce        (601) 450-5247

Bill Powe                (601) 450-2453

Longleaf Trace Closed for Extensive Clean-up Efforts from Hurricane Katrina

Hattiesburg, Miss.—The Longleaf Trace, part of the Rails to Trails conservation project, will be closed until further notice due to damage from Hurricane Katrina.  It is estimated that over 10,000 trees and related debris are down on the Trace as a result of the severely high winds.  This closure is necessary so that contractors can have unrestricted access to all sections and can finish the clean-up without endangering Trace visitors. Patrons are asked not to enter any section of the 41 mile long Trace.  The reopening is now estimated to be in about two weeks.

Trace manager Herlon Pierce said, “In order to have the most efficient clean-up possible, we have had to close the entire Trace, from Hattiesburg to Prentiss.  We want to keep our patrons out of harms way and the most effective way we can do this is by closing down the Trace until all the clean-up has finished.”

“We are trying to do what is best for our visitors now, and for the future,” Longleaf Trace Gateway manager, Bill Powe said.  “We understand that this will be an inconvenience for a short time, but we are doing our best to have the work done on the Trace finished as soon as we can.”

For information on the Longleaf Trace and the latest updates on the clean-up progress and re-opening, please visit www.longleaftrace.org or call (601) 450-5247.