Key Points
- Construction began in late February on the $1.9 million Barton-Basin Community Center in George County near Highway 63 South and Wayne Lee Road.
- The 6,110-square-foot facility was approved by the Board of Supervisors on January 5, with a formal groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for April 9.
- The multi-purpose building is designed to host over 100 people, with a conference room and storage space for meetings and events.
- County officials say the center will also function as a staging location for emergency supplies during disasters.
- Most funding comes from state appropriations and capital expenditure funds, and the facility is expected to be completed in February 2027.
LUCEDALE — Construction is underway on the $1.9 million Barton-Basin Community Center in George County near Highway 63 South and Wayne Lee Road.
The Board of Supervisors approved the project Jan. 5, and construction began in late February on the 6,110-square-foot facility. A formal groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for April 9.
Community Development Director Ken Flanagan said the center will give the Barton-Basin area a dedicated space for larger gatherings.
“As the community has grown over the last 20 years or so, it became obvious that we just didn’t have a facility that met the community’s needs,” Flanagan said. “The volunteer fire department area was just too small, and the churches there — although very nice — maybe didn’t have the gathering spaces that were needed for larger events.”
The building is designed as a multipurpose facility that can host more than 100 people. Plans include a conference room for smaller meetings and storage space.
Resident Diana Tipton said the center could give families more opportunities to gather closer to home.
“We have a lot of people moving here now — a community center and more than one place to go is perfect. It gives people a chance to get together and be able to have a community,” she said.
County officials say the center is designed to serve both social and practical needs. In addition to hosting community events, the building could also serve as a staging location for emergency supplies during disasters.
“If it comes in on a pallet, we’ve got the concrete foundation, the ramps and the door width to be able to help us get that stuff in faster,” Flanagan said.
He said the site and facility were designed — including two driveway entrances and a portico-style front entrance — along Highway 63 because of accessibility and traffic flow.
“We knew we wanted it for transportation purposes — we wanted it close to Highway 63, a four-lane, easy-traffic area to get through,” Flanagan said.
Most of the project funding comes from state appropriations and capital expenditure funds. Flanagan said support from multiple House representatives, along with county funding, helped secure the financing needed to move the project forward.
Crews are expected to continue groundwork through the spring, with the building framework planned for the summer. County officials expect the facility to be completed in February 2027.
