A Newton city park that was damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is getting some repairs as part of a community project. The park is behind the historic Train Depot in Newton. The park actually started about 20 years ago through efforts of community-minded citizens.

"This is a community project that started in 1987, if you can imagine one going that long," said Angie Burks of the Newton Chamber of Commerce. "The Friends of the Depot is the group that maintains the depot in Newton, and they landscaped the park when they restored the depot."

Hurricane Katrina caused considerable damage. Four years later, volunteers from Newton County are helping to bring the park back together.

Friends of the Depot are working with the MSU Extension Service, Central Mississippi Residential Center, and other volunteers throughout the community.

"We've had a lot of guidance from Mississippi State Extension Service through their Master Gardeners Program in the design of the landscape, because when you put it in this small, then it grows," said Burks. "It looks different in 20 years."

"The Master Gardener Program is a program through Mississippi State Extension Service where we give the master gardener volunteers 40 hours of training, all related to gardening and vegetable gardening and in return for the education they receive they have to give back 40 hours to the community," said LeAnne McGee.

Burks says that the project was expected to take at least a week, though it seems as though they will be able to finish in just two days.