The dream McComb officials had of building a new gymnasium at the Martin Luther King Complex in 2019 became a reality more than three years later, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday celebrating the completion of the project.
The city board borrowed $1.5 million in 2019 to make the project happen and hired Mitchco Construction Inc. of Hattiesburg and M3A Architecture of Jackson.
City Administrator David Myers said the overall project cost ended up being a little more than $1.6 million, a reflection of higher materials prices during the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but American Rescue Plan Act funds cover added costs.
“The facility is an excellent facility,” Mayor Quordiniah Lockley said. “I am hoping that the community, as a whole, will value this and see it as an asset for the City of McComb and that we will see activities for all here at the MLK gymnasium.”
“I think it’s a great addition to this part of the community,” Myers said. “It’s been a long time coming, obviously. There were a few bumps in the road to get this project off the ground. The previous city board overcame those bumps in the road and got it done. We’re very excited to have this building in the community.”
McComb Recreation Department Director Joyce Smith said the gym will soon host a youth baseketball league.
“It is a great thing for the community,” she said. “My main focus is the children. This is a positive thing for the children. Hopefully, by the middle of January or the start of February, we’ll have a league starting with basketball for children ages 6 through 15. Then, after that, we’re going to do some volleyball tournaments.
“We’re going to have something for the adults. Right now, we’re in the process of working all that out, but we’re going to have some fun-filled activities for everybody.”
Smith said renting the gym will cost anywhere from $35 for a basketball practice to $325 for a day-long tournament, with a $50 security deposit required.
The gym has 20 lockers, a shower, men’s and women’s locker rooms, reversible bleachers, wired scoreboards, concession stands and a sideline for players and cheerleaders.
“Just looking at it now, I think it’s a great job that’s been done,” former Selectman Shawn Williams said. “I think Ms. Joyce and the Recreation Department and everybody that was involved did their part. I think this is going to bring a lot back to the community and especially in a time where our children, they need something to do. I think this is going to give them an opportunity to come back out, get involved and play basketball and a lot of different things so I think it’s good.”
Recreation facilities coordinator Nicole Robinson said the gym was beautifully designed, family oriented and will bring the community together.
“We really just want to pull at people to do something other than video games,” she said. “We’re trying to pull people into using their skills again with family-oriented games, even if it’s adults and children together. But we’re trying to do something here that’s going to pull our city together.”
Lockley noted that the Martin Luther King Complex also has a community center, splash pad, tennis court and baseball field.
“We want everybody to know that this is a city facility. It is not a Ward 5 facility,” he said. “It is a city facility and everybody is welcome to come, play baseball, play basketball, use the community center to the splash pad. We want everybody to know that it is safe for them to come here. It is safe here at the Martin Luther King Complex.”
