Hattiesburg, Mississippi — The City of Hattiesburg celebrated the opening of the Katie John Dabbs Community Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 15.

The $1.2 million project repurposed the former Pathway Christian Fellowship Center into a welcoming community gathering space designed to support neighborhood meetings, recreational and educational programs, community services, activities and special events.

“This project represents the kind of meaningful investment that strengthens neighborhoods and creates spaces where people can come together,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “By giving this building a new purpose, we have preserved an important community asset while creating new opportunities for connection, programming and service.”

Approximately $950,000 of the project was funded through federal Community Development Block Grant funding. An additional $250,000 was provided through a state appropriation secured in 2022 by State Senator Juan Barnett and State Representative Percy Watson.

Located at 1102 Dabbs Street, the renovated facility will serve residents of the surrounding neighborhood and the broader Hattiesburg community. The center offers a flexible public space for programs, meetings, services and other opportunities that will bring residents together.

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