Timeless April-June 2022 | Page 8

FEATURE

Overseen by the Department of Wildlife , Fisheries , and Parks , more than 1.1 million reservations were made at Mississippi ’ s 21 state parks during 2021 . At Clarkco , more than 58,400 reservations were made . That total does not include the number of people in each party or those who come as day visitors , Fleming said .

“ We are already surpassing last year ’ s reservations when compared month to month ,” he said of this year ’ s visitors .

Clarkco offers 21 fully furnished cabins each with a grill , picnic table and fire ring . Fortythree camper sites are available with water , sewer and electricity hook-ups and seven primitive tent sites .

New to the park are Tentrr fully outfitted campsites .

“ We have a lot of folks who come here and primitive camp all of the time . Now , instead of coming in and wasting a lot of time putting up a tent when they get here , they are all ready to camp ,” Fleming said .

Each Tentrr site comes with a safari-style , canvas-walled tent atop a raised platform that includes a queen-sized bed fitted with a memory foam mattress . Each platform includes a heating source , Adirondack chairs , a fire pit , a grill and a picnic table with storage and benches .

Clarkco hosts nine of the sites , including one that features sideby-side platforms for a larger group . All are located near bathhouses .

“ Our Tentrr campsites are placed around the lake , so they have a good view of the lake ,” Fleming said . “ One is off in a remote area in the woods .”

A joint venture between MDWFP and the New York-based Tentrr , eight state parks offer 56 of the campsites . At least 130 reservations , which must be made through tentrr . com , have been made at those parks .

Other draws to Clarkco include hiking and biking trails , swimming areas , playgrounds , picnic pavilions , tennis courts , a Splash Pad for youngsters and a disc golf course . Lake Ivy is stocked with bass , bream and catfish . Personal kayaks , canoes , sailboats and pontoon boats are allowed on the lake . Ski boats are limited in number .

“ We have about 13 miles of trails here at the park . They are well maintained . They are wide , going through some of the bigger pines ,” Fleming said . “ We have probably built six bridges over streams since I have been here .”

Fleming is excited about the recent expansion of the disc golf course from a nine to an 18-basket course which will allow Clarkco to host tournaments .

“ These tournaments sometimes bring in 150 to 200 folks ,” he said . “ That is going to be new people coming to the park and seeing what we have to offer .”

The disc golf expansion and other improvements are made possible due to the dedication of a group of volunteers called the Friends of Clarkco , Fleming said .

Friends volunteers work the park ’ s events from helping kids bait hooks at the fishing rodeo to handing out water to 5K runners to setting up for Bluegrass Day in the Park . They help keep the trails cleared of limbs . They split firewood . They have made new curtains for all of the cabins .

They also raise money , including hiring a roofer to put new roofs on two cabins after securing donated materials and purchasing two truckloads of crossties to help build up the camping pads . They purchased the new disc golf poles and baskets .

Fleming also relies on AmeriCorps workers who have come in and helped to level the ground around the camping pads , clear nature trails , build bridges and upgrade cabins .

“ This is my strength at my park to get things done ,” Fleming said of the two groups .

Helen Miller said they are pleased with all of the improvements they have seen at Clarkco since Fleming arrived . She lauds him and his hard-working staff .

“ They are like our second family ,” she said . “ Really and truly , it is like coming home when we go to Clarkco .” T

Upcoming Events at Clarkco State Park

8 • TIMELESS MERIDIAN