OSPREYS is a splendid name for this dedicated group of Ocean Springs residents. This organization of citizens is pressing for safer walkways in their vibrant Gulf Coast arts community.
     Created in May 2020, OSPREYS stands for Ocean Springs Residents for Exercise and Youth Safety. The 443-member non-profit features a Facebook page. But in the real world, this bunch of South Mississippi people is pitching a common cause: enhancing the quality of life in their historic hometown with the focus on safety.
     Along coastlines, lakes and rivers around the world, the Osprey is often seen flying, then plunging feet first to catch fish in its talons. This sea hawk or river hawk is beautiful to see in action.
     Likewise, OSPREYS are high-energy people taking bold steps to make their Mississippi Gulf Coast Community even better.
     From downtown Ocean Springs to the rest of the city, these folks go the extra mile for good causes. Their goal? Increasing road safety for pedestrians, cyclists and golf cart drivers by re-examining speed limits.
     “It’s very personal – I run and bike on the roads’’ says Allen Stanfield, 41, the OSPREYS treasurer. “I have a young child on the road. This is still a place that’s unsafe for pedestrians.’’
     Allen and his wife, Amy, a professor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College are  faithful members of the OSPREYS.
     The group has promoted awareness of their concerns, but there’s much more to do on their wish list. A Biloxi native, Allen Stanfield puts in long hours in the real estate business in his hometown of Ocean Springs. He’s committed to doing much more to address the city’s bike and walking needs for local citizens.
     It’s really a team effort as organizers of the grassroots movement partner with city leaders. They desire to eliminate any safety issues for pedestrians strolling the community’s streets and walks to go shop downtown. They’ve worked to ensure that motorists in their neighborhoods aren’t speeding. They began taking steps to lower speed limits and continued their journey with other projects.

     The group’s three board members are: Liz Elmore, who serves as the president, Stanfield and vice president Lauren Thurman. Stanfield wears another hat in his scenic Coast community that’s home to plenty of arts festivals, delicious eateries and marvelous museums. He serves on the Ocean Springs Planning Commission.                                
     The OSPREYS recently partnered with the City of Ocean Springs and its Police Department to proclaim May as Driver Safety Awareness Month.
     With messages like “I’m an OSPREYS Safety Super Hero’’ on signs popping up around town, members are promoting a super hero themed youth bike safety event. Set for 9 a.m. May 15, the activity is scheduled for the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center. Dress up, decorate the bikes and win prizes!
     And coming soon is a new bike trail to zip across the downtown area. Leaders are picking up the pace to bring in grants as well. Their largest funding request so far was an April application to the AARP Community Challenge Grant opportunity. If funded, it would create a traffic calming ground mural on Washington Avenue. It will help Villa Maria Retirement Complex residents safely walk to places they need to be.
     Liz Elmore is delighted to talk about her group’s many projects – from walkways to bike trails and the grants scene. In March, Mississippi Power/Southern Company received kudos on their website as the OSPREYS first Fortune 500 donor.
     The group’s history dates back to spring 2020 when members pushed to bring attention to high speed limits in town. Their campaign quickly got the attention of Ocean Springs city leaders. Aldermen reduced 11 residential streets’ speed limits to 25 mph. The group wasn’t finished. Members worked with the Ocean Springs School District to educate parents and students about the benefits of walking and biking to school.
     Elmore tells a Seaside Social News reporter she loves the name OSPREYS and what it stands for. “It highlights that we are a group of residents who want to ensure our kids are safe while out getting exercise!,’’ Liz says. “I thought the acronym was helpful as an abbreviation and it tied in nicely to our wildlife population!’
     She’s encouraging more people to get involved.
     Rob Blackman, the Ocean Springs Ward 5 alderman, is bullish about the OSPREYS. The pro-active citizens group, he said, “brings ideas to the table that we may not see. They bring about grant opportunities and outside monies for projects.’’ He points to their project seeking 3D art to enhance several crosswalks around town.
     Their commitment to help their community is off the charts. “They have a 100 percent focus on making our streets safer for every biker, runner and pedestrian,’’ Blackman said. “Their efforts are very much appreciated by myself and the Board of Aldermen.’’
     Blackman was “an early advocate for our cause,’’ Liz Elmore noted. He made the motion during a meeting at City Hall to reduce nearly a dozen residential streets’ speed limits to 25 mph. “After that success we started hearing from lots of folks in the community about their concerns regarding pedestrian safety,’’ Liz said.
     There are plenty of cities around the USA with better infrastructure to achieve their goals to build safer walking trails, bike paths and more, Stanfield said. “Infrastructure costs money.’’
     It explains why members of the OSPREYS seek grants to achieve their goals in Ocean Springs. One of the newest projects is to extend the current Live Oak Bike Trail. Cynthia Sutton of the Chamber of Commerce is a big advocate supporting marketing for the new trail. No surprise, OSPREYS are seeking a grant to help boost bike usage on the trail.
     For additional details, go to www.ospreysos.com or check out their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Ospreys1699 as well as Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/ospreysos/

On the cover: Liz Elmore, president, OSPREYS, Ocean Springs Residents for Exercise and Youth Safety

Andy Kanengiser

Mississippi College’s university news coordinator, Andy Kanengiser, spent three decades as a newspaper reporter. For much of his career, the New Jersey native worked at “The Clarion-Ledger.” Andy also serves as the advisor to the “Mississippi Collegian,” MC’s student newspaper. Pearl residents, he and his wife, Sunuia, stay busy with their five adult children and 10 grandkids! An avid table tennis player, Andy captured gold and silver medals at the Mississippi Senior Olympics, (and State Games). He’s in his 13th season sponsoring the MC team, national collegiate champs in 2015 and No. 2 in 2019.