Page 195 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2015

ABOVE AND RIGHT: Arts on the Avenue is a great new addition to Downtown Pascagoula along with the new Senior Center. FAR RIGHT: The Round Island Lighthouse is now located at the base of the high rise bridge.
The Pascagoula Senior Center’s move from downtown to the new facility paved the way for a new investment in Pascagoula’s creative economy, Arts on the Avenue — the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s only city-owned and operated arts center — on Delmas Avenue. The 3,000-square-foot facility features a pottery studio, classroom space and a gallery which showcases the work of over 70 local artists.
“Arts on the Avenue is not just
an arts center, it’s a catalyst for
the development of Pascagoula’s creative economy,” said Jen Dearman, director of community and economic development. “We might be most well- known for industry, but Pascagoula also has a lot to offer in arts and culture.”
Pascagoula’s Katrina story is also presented in an interactive way at
the beautiful Beach Park, located at 600 City Park Street. In addition to its many amenities, Beach Park has the Katrina Trail, a walking track with tiles painted by local school children and signage with information about the hurricane that can be used to teach children.
It’s also home to an installation of public art that depicts a big part of
Pascagoula’s experience of the storm — the flood. The 10-ton sculpture is made of three waves. The sculpture was constructed, painted and delivered by Ingalls Shipbuilding, which was operating as Northrop Grumman Ship Systems at the time. Adjacent to the Katrina sculpture is a splash pad, which was funded by
a Katrina Recovery Grant from the Mississippi Power Foundation.
The crowning jewel of Pascagoula’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina is the restoration of the Round Island Lighthouse. Originally built in
1859, the lighthouse was toppled
by Hurricane Georges in 1998 and ended up in the water as a result of shifting sand on Round Island. A restoration effort had begun when Hurricane Katrina knocked over the lighthouse base inside the protective caisson that had been built. It was
recognized that the lighthouse could not be protected from nature on Round Island, so Pascagoula officials selected a publicly-owned site at the base of the high rise bridge to relocate the base.
The 220-ton structure was moved onto land in 2010. The interior restoration is a work in progress
and will include wooden stairs that visitors can climb to reach the lantern gallery and look out over Pascagoula. The interior restoration also includes permanent lighting so all those entering Pascagoula will be welcomed by the shining beacon.
“The lighthouse is truly a symbol
of Pascagoula’s strength,” said Jen Dearman. “In both cases, it took the dedication and time of many people to rebuild it, and both have a bright and shining future.”
Although Pascagoula still has a long road ahead for a complete recovery, the spirit of the community remains undaunted. City Engineer Jaci Turner adds, “There has been a change in the people that’s hard to describe. Going through Katrina brought us together under the absolute worst
of circumstances, but strengthened us as individuals and members of a community.”
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August 2015 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 195