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Paul B. Johnson State Park facts for kids

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Paul B. Johnson State Park
PBJohnson State Park Picnic Area.jpg
Picnic Area
Paul B. Johnson State Park is located in Mississippi
Paul B. Johnson State Park
Paul B. Johnson State Park
Location in Mississippi
Location Forrest, Mississippi, United States
Area 805 acres (326 ha)
Elevation 220 ft (67 m)
Established Unspecified
Named for Governor Paul B. Johnson
Governing body Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Website Paul B. Johnson State Park

Paul B. Johnson State Park is a fun place to visit in Mississippi! It's a public park located right next to Geiger Lake. You can find it about 10 miles south of Hattiesburg, near U.S. Highway 49. The park is named after Paul B. Johnson, who was a governor of Mississippi. A governor is like the leader of a state.

About Paul B. Johnson State Park

This park is built on rolling hills. You can see many beautiful trees here, like flowering dogwoods, southern yellow pines, and oaks.

The Story of Geiger Lake

Geiger Lake is a big part of the park. It was once called Lake Shelby. This lake was built in the mid-1940s. It was created with the help of German prisoners of war (POWs). These POWs were staying at a place called Camp Shelby nearby.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

The park has a large lake, which is 225 acres (91 hectares). It's a great spot for many activities!

  • Fishing: You can go fishing in the lake. It's filled with different kinds of fish. Some of these include largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker, crappie, and channel catfish.
  • Water Sports: If you love the water, you can go water skiing or swimming in the lake.
  • Camping: The park has many places to stay overnight.
    • There are 25 spots for primitive tent-camping. This means you bring your own tent and basic gear.
    • There are 125 spots for RV camping. These spots have water, sewer, and electricity hookups for your RV.
    • You can also rent one of 16 vacation cabins for a comfortable stay.
  • Picnics and Play:
    • The park has 50 picnic sites where you can enjoy a meal outdoors. Each site comes with a grill.
    • There are also six larger picnic pavilions, perfect for groups.
    • Kids will love the playground equipment.
    • There's even a splash pad to cool off on hot days!
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