Your Life - Special Packages - Guide To Gulf Coast Living

Saturday, Jun. 20, 2009

Ocean Springs: A special place to be

By DONNA HARRIS MELTON

Sun Herald

OCEAN SPRINGS — Visitors looking at the City of Discovery will find a premiere location to work, live, play and worship.

But that’s not all. It’s also a great place to shop, eat and learn, Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran said.

Moran, whose family has made the city by Biloxi Bay their home for generations, is hard pressed to name the one thing that makes Ocean Springs a popular destination for tourists as well as home sweet home for the 17,500 residents last counted in the 2005 Census.

“It’s the people,” she said after much deliberation.

The city, she said, tends to lure a creative type of people within its boundaries — professionals, artists, environmentalists and such — who are attracted to the small-town character it offers.

These folks appreciate the oak-lined streets, the top-ranked schools, the diversity of churches, the home-owned specialty shops and the smorgasbord of restaurants catering to various ethnicities.

Those who own and work in the city’s businesses treat customers graciously, Moran said. There is also enough variety of services offered that no one should have to go anywhere else for anything, she said.

“I don’t want to leave here,” she said.

Discovered by French explorers in 1699, the city re-enacts the historical landing on Front Beach each spring.

In the 310 years since, Ocean Springs has grown to include Latimer, St. Martin, Gulf Hills, Gulf Park Estates and St. Andrews.

The school district is one of the highest ranked in the state, Moran said.

Residents recently passed a $35 million bond issue for construction of a new high school as well as improvements to the other facilities.

Sixty-six percent of residents also passed a 2 percent levy on restaurants and lounges which is being spent on recreation. A ground breaking for the Highway 57 Ball Complex was celebrated in May.

In development for more than 10 years, but hindered by wetlands concerns and lacking funds, the complex should be completed by Christmas, Moran said.

When finished the complex will include two football fields, four international size soccer fields, five little league baseball fields and four adult softball fields.

The complex allows parents to enjoy their children’s games in one location, helps the school district maintain a competitive sports program and creates opportunities for tournaments which will attract visitors to the city, hopefully to spend money in the restaurants and lounges.