Ground has been broken on a $35 million sports complex in Hattiesburg.
Local officials gathered at Tatum Park on Monday to begin the process of bringing a 120,000-square-foot recreation and sports event center to life. The indoor venue will feature 16 pickleball courts, 10 volleyball courts, six basketball courts, and four futsal soccer fields, along with offices, concessions stands, and space for a restaurant.
Officials expect the venue to serve as an epicenter of sorts for tournaments, large-scale competitions, and regional events, boosting tourism by welcoming visitors who will also be patronizing Hattiesburg’s hotels, restaurants, and other small businesses.
“When we put these shovels in the ground, we’re not just breaking soil. I would say that we’re planting something that will grow for generations,” Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said. “We’re not just building a facility with 120,000 square feet and 60,000 square feet of playing surface, we’re building opportunity for our kids, creating one more gathering place for families and friends. We’re offering the outside world one more avenue with which to experience our community.”
Per the mayor, the recreation center was made possible through anonymous donors, with funding provided through the Pinebelt Foundation. Local residents will have full access to the center, opening the door to expanded athletic programming, youth and adult sports, clinics, camps, and year-round recreational opportunities.