Thesis Highlights

"This Land Is Your Land"

Anna Kathryn Becker and Lauren Lake, 2024

“This Land Is Your Land: Optimising Sixteenth Section Land Use in Mississippi”

Section 16 Public Trust Land constitutes a vital resource dedicated to the preservation of public education nationwide – in Mississippi, there are 640,000 acres of Section 16, each one square mile within the Jeffersonian Grid.

Lease options range from agriculture, industry, commerce, farming, residential, recreation, oil, gas and minerals, with all lease proceeds benefiting the public school system – however, historical exploitation and neglect have scarred these lands and surrounding environments.

Our thesis endeavours to reclaim these parcels, revitalising their original purpose to enrich our communities, proposing a new spatial model that breaks the traditional Jeffersonian grid by prioritising recreational, clean industrial and educational synergies.

By fostering partnerships between these sectors, we not only increase revenue streams for the public school system, but also champion initiatives such as carbon capture, sustainable production and enhanced social infrastructure, restoring the integrity of Section 16 Land and leveraging its potential to transform communities citywide, producing a healthier and more vibrant environment for all.

Faculty Thesis Directors: Cordula Roser Gray and Todd Erlandson

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