The 1-percent tax increase that was instituted in 2019 at Hattiesburg restaurants, hotels and motels continues to pay dividends for Parks and Recreation Department projects throughout the Hub City, with the most recent being a new junior disc golf course and additional playground at Thames Elementary School on Jamestown Avenue.

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new disc golf course and playground was held May 23 at the back of the school and was attended by Mayor Toby Barker, other city officials and Guillermo Avalos, who designed and built the seven-hole course. Avalos is a member of the Hattiesburg Disc Golf Association and the Professional Disc Golf Association, and is a two-time world champion in the sport.

The disc golf project was made possible with the help of Hattiesburg architectural firm Landry Lewis German Architects and www.jumputt.com.

“As an avid disc golf player, this was a project near and dear to my heart,” Avalos said. “Through the sponsorship of jumputt.com, LLGA for the design programs and the City of Hattiesburg for providing the materials and machinery, I was able to design and install this seven-hole, novice, recreational-level disc golf course.

“This course will allow players of all skill levels to practice the sport, as well as provide Thames Elementary with a new sport to teach if they so choose.”

Avalos has provided 18…