Toyota Helps Revitalize Tombigbee State Park

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — The largest state park in northeast Mississippi region is getting a much needed face lift thanks to Toyota.

The banner at the entrance says “Leave your print.”

And that is exactly what several hundred Toyota employees and their families did at Tombigbee State Park. There was plenty of landscaping. And the inside of the lodge got a new paint job. Toyota has participated in National Public Lands Day for 22-years and this is the start of what will be a five year relationship between the car maker and the park. Sean Suggs is Vice President of Toyota Mississippi.

“Tombigbee is the largest state park we have in this region and we felt like it would be a really good opportunity to use our resources long term to make this large park a success.”

“We’re just really really excited partnering with Toyota,” says Park Manager Jeff Rosamond “With the manpower that they have with their volunteers that are coming out, we’re going to be able to do some things that normally we’re not able to do just because we are short staffed.”

Part of the relationship between Toyota Manufacturing Company of Mississippi and Tombigbee State Park is the company will provide 250-thousand dollars as well as thousands of hours of volunteer manpower, as well as 15-thousand dollars specifically for this cabin behind me which Toyota is adopting.

And because it was built in the 1930’s with Cypress cut by a special saw, renovation will be a challenge.

“That is challenge trying to find the Cypress and trying to get the right person to mill it,” Rosamond says. “But with Toyota and some of the other partnerships we’re going to be able to put Tombigbee back on the map that I like to call it and be able to bring out it’s naturally beauty that it has that I feel right now we just kind of lack.”

And for many of the Toyota team members it was a chance to do something their families. Phillip Williams of Amory and his wife and three sons planted bulbs together.

“For my family I like them to be able and come out. We like to enjoy the outdoors together and be part of giving back to the community and raising children up to understand to give back in that involvement,” he says.

And Booneville’s Bruce Harris also enjoyed spending time with his family. He says working for Toyota has really changed his life.
“It changed dramatically like I was in a tough spot before Toyota. And Toyota helped me get a lot done and it’s flexible days and nights so it’s nice experience working for them. I love it.”

And Toyota volunteers love coming out and making a difference at the park.