By Rupert Howell

 Mississippi state representative Warner McBride said Thursday he is “optimistic” that Cossar State Park will remain open, “but with some changes.”

The Enid Lake park was set to be shuttered after state officials said it lost $300,000 last year, the “largest sustained deficit” among Mississippi’s state parks.

The park also had only a 21-percent occupancy rate, officials said.

Cossar is operated by the Miss. Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.  

The park was set to be closed October 31, affecting 20 jobs.

Cossar Park is located in Yalobusha County.

The park has cabins, campsites and a restaurant, among other amenities.

After the announcement was made last week, McBride, of Batesville, and Rep. Tommy Reynolds, of Water Valley, met with MDWFP Director Sam Polles to discuss several options to keep Cossar open.

 After learning of the closing, “we went to work discussing ideas to keep the state park open,” said McBride, who sits on the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee in the state House of Representatives.

 “Chairman Reynolds and I met with Dr. Sam Polles and presented some options to keep our park up and operating for the people of Mississippi and those visiting,” McBride said.

 “We will look at attracting more visitors and acquiring funding for the park,” said McBride. “We will be looking at every possible avenue.”