Page 24 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2016

COASTNOTES
WELCOME TO GULFPORT
ABOVE: The new Gulfport Visitors Center at Grass Lawn opened in March. BELOW, CENTER: Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes assists Soo and Chi Whang of Chicago with cutting the ribbon during the dedication for the new Gulfport Visitors Center at Grass Lawn in Gulfport, Mississippi, on March 3. The Whangs were the rst visitors to the new center.
Gulfport opens Welcome Center at Grass Lawn
story by Lynn Lofton photos by James Edward Bates
A ribbon cutting and grand opening were held recently for Gulfport’s new Welcome Center at Historic Grass Lawn. The visitor’s center will be staffed and open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m.
This new center is with the assistance of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “Tourism accounts for more than 25 percent of our total economy and the center is positioned to increase
tourist knowledge of Gulfport’s many activities and growing family attractions,” said David Parker, City of Gulfport director of economic development.
Parker noted there isn’t another visitor’s center between Biloxi and Bay St. Louis. “The Gulfport Welcome Center won’t just promote Gulfport’s events and attractions, but also activities in other Coast cities,” he said. “It’s a small space but it will be a very important place for tourists
to stop and get information to find out everything there is to do on the Coast.”
The center is located in Grass
Lawn’s annex building, the brick building located on the east side of the property. Grass Lawn’s main building is still available for events.
Gulfport Welcome Center
720 East Beach Blvd., Gulfport 228.382.2719
24 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2016
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