The gifts, which came from Regions Bank, $6,000, and Web Heidelberg, $5,000, will go toward the Jerry Ryan Memorial Outdoor Center, which includes a covered pavilion, a playground, a warm-up area, a seating wall and landscaping.

It is now under construction and the majority of the first phase should be complete by the Oct. 20 Jerry Ryan Memorial Bicycle Ride, Longleaf Trace Trail Manager Herlon Pierce said at the monthly meeting of the Pearl & Leaf Rivers Rails-to-Trails Recreation District.

The project costs approximately $300,000, but is divided into two phases. The first $164,400 phase has already been funded.

"This will help give us some relief by allowing us to build some of the benches and complete the project like it was originally intended," Board President Lynn Cartlidge said.

Regions Area Executive Greg Garraway said the bank, which is near the end of a merger with AmSouth Bank, is incorporating a bicycle into its theme as it completes the transition.

"Part of our new brand is the bicycle," Garraway said, noting that the company has several bright-green retro bicycles in its promotions. "Our customers and clients have helped us identify the bicycle as something simple, enjoyable, reliable and healthy.

"And also the Ryan family has been an important part of this community, and we want to support them," the banker said.

Ryan, an avid bicyclist and photographer who died in an Oct. 22, 2003, bicycle accident, was instrumental in the original planning and fundraising that led up to the construction of the Longleaf Trace.

And to mark the anniversary of the Hattiesburg businessman's death, the Friends of the Trace is organizing a trail ride for Oct. 20.

That event could also generate a sizable contribution when a group of at least 14 New Orleanian cyclists plan to converge on Hattiesburg to ride the Trace.

The group - which is coming to town on the Amtrak - is working with the passenger rail provider and will likely be allowed to donate their ticket fare to the Friends of the Trace, according to Larry Lagarde of New Orleans' Metro Bicycle Coalition. Lagarde said late Tuesday the bicycle group had not confirmed whether the decision had been approved by Amtrak.

Lagarde, who has been compiling a book on bicycle trails, said he wants to do anything possible to support riding trails in this part of the South.

"I think the Longleaf Trace is a fabulous trail," Lagarde said. "A lot of people in New Orleans would like to see it and they could travel there and take a ride. I really think this is going to be a great promotion of the Longleaf Trace."

Leslie Farmer, president of the Friends of the Trace, said all the money will go back into the Trace.

"We're really excited, thrilled about all of this," she said. "We use the money in any type of support for the Trace, whether that is having safety signs made or our dream would be to add more to the pavilion."

Heidelberg did not attend the meeting and could not be reached for comment.

In an unrelated donation, the Jefferson Davis County Chamber of Commerce gave the board $500 to install signs for its annual birthday challenge, in which participants are dared to ride the number of kilometers in their age. The event this year is Nov. 3.