The city of Ocean Springs will celebrate the grand opening of historic Fort Maurepas Park on Oct. 24.

The $1.8 million park project commemorates the 1699 fort erected after the landing of French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville.

The park that overlooks Front Beach was damaged during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

A wooden replica of the fort was not rebuilt, but there is a concrete outline of the fort in the 2.3-acre park.

The park includes a walkway featuring the eight flags that have flown over Ocean Springs, a playground, splash pad, pavilion and restrooms.

The signature addition to the park is the bronze statue of d’Iberville by sculptor Marlene Hilton Moore.