Columbus fossil park project wins $536,950 state grant to build kayak and canoe launch

Grant targets water access at Propst Park fossil site

The City of Columbus, Mississippi, has secured a $536,950 grant to construct a kayak and canoe launch tied to the Jack Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park, a planned recreation and education area along Luxapalila Creek at Propst Park. The award was approved through the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, a state program created under the Outdoor Stewardship Act to support conservation and nature-based outdoor recreation projects.

City officials presented plans for the “Cretaceous Kayak and Canoe Launch,” describing the facility as a key component of the broader fossil park concept. The launch is intended to provide paddlers access to creek segments where fossil hunting sites can be difficult to reach on foot, connecting water recreation with the park’s educational focus on the area’s fossil-bearing geology.

How the project fits into Columbus’ wider fossil park build-out

The fossil park initiative centers on public access to Cretaceous-period materials found along the Luxapalila Creek corridor. City discussions about the park date back to late 2024, when local officials outlined plans to develop a family-oriented fossil destination that could include shoreline access for collecting marine fossils and other remains associated with ancient coastal environments.

Planning and financing have proceeded through multiple grant applications and administrative steps. In 2025, Columbus pursued funding for a broader set of improvements that included a walking trail and a geological timeline feature, while also seeking support specifically for a creek launch. City deliberations during the same period included how to structure grant management and oversight for fossil-park-related funds, including discussion of a fiscal agent arrangement for the project.

What the Outdoor Stewardship program is designed to fund

Mississippi’s Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund was established by state law in 2022 to expand investment in outdoor recreation and conservation projects. Eligible uses include improvements to parks and trails, projects that enhance access to public waters and lands for recreation and conservation education, and habitat restoration initiatives. Grant rounds have been awarded statewide since the program’s launch, using a competitive process administered by a board of trustees.

Key verified details

• Grant amount: $536,950
• Project: Construction of a kayak and canoe launch associated with the fossil park
• Location: Luxapalila Creek bank at Propst Park in Columbus, Mississippi
• Funding program: Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund

The project is positioned as a recreation-access addition intended to connect paddling with fossil-park activity along the creek corridor.

City leaders have not released a final construction timeline in the materials reviewed, but the award represents one of the largest single funding infusions publicly tied to the fossil park plan to date and is aimed at moving the water-access component from concept toward development.