Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Tuesday, January 28, the City of Hattiesburg celebrated the reopening of the Timberton Complex, marking the completion of a long-awaited restoration project. The complex, destroyed by a tornado on January 21, 2017, has been fully rebuilt after years of persistence through numerous challenges and delays.
“Restoring Timberton Park has been one of the most difficult processes yet significant milestones over the past eight years,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “We made a promise to this neighborhood to fight for them and deliver the park they deserve. Today reflects the determination of city staff and partners who worked tirelessly to make this moment possible.”
The journey to rebuild Timberton Park was a complex and prolonged process, largely due to an extended battle with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Following an initial damage assessment in 2017, FEMA significantly underestimated the repair costs. The City of Hattiesburg spent years appealing FEMA’s decisions, revising estimates and navigating disputes to secure the necessary funding. FEMA repeatedly de-obligated funds, requiring the city to file appeals, pursue arbitration and advocate for building code-compliant, storm-resilient upgrades. The process was further complicated in 2018 when the park’s press box was destroyed in a fire.
Ultimately, the city secured $2.9 million in funding through FEMA allocations, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), insurance proceeds and local contributions. Culpepper Construction & Masonry, LLC was awarded the contract for the restoration, which included rebuilding the park and replacing the press box.
Softball games are anticipated to start this fall.
Timberton Complex Timeline
January 21, 2017 – Timberton Complex is destroyed by Tornado
May 1, 2017 – FEMA Cost Estimation Format calculates damages totaling $565,572 to Timberton that was based solely on a site visit by City Staff and FEMA and not an engineer’s report as required by FEMA for Large Category Projects.
June 20, 2018 – The City of Hattiesburg appeals the original damage estimates of $565,572 to FEMA that damages actually total $2,455,418.00
October 18, 2018 – Fire destroys the large pressbox at Timberton. It had sustained minor damage during the 2017 tornado. City of Hattiesburg Insurance was paid in the amount of $147,287.43.
April 1, 2019 – FEMA issues revised Cost Estimating Format of an additional $1,888,182 for a total of $2,456,078.48 obligated for repairs at Timberton Complex.
August 20, 2019 – Congressman Palazzo announces the obligation of $1.4 million dollars for Timberton Complex in Hattiesburg
September 29, 2019 – City of Hattiesburg receives obligation letter of 2,456,078.48 for Timberton Complex. However, it was determined that approximately $957,683.00 had been omitted from cost revisions related to project management and construction trade requirements such as permits, safety & security, bonds, insurance and architect/engineering costs
September 26, 2019 – The omissions related to the most recent obligation was submitted to FEMA for correction. No decisions have been sent to the City of Hattiesburg.
January 21, 2020 – 3rd Anniversary of the January 21, 2017 tornado that destroyed Timberton Park.
February 13, 2020 – City of Hattiesburg receives a letter from FEMA that $1,717,425.48 of the $2,456,078.48 obligated for repair of Timberton had been de-obligated due to a FEMA re-inspection of the project.
****Repair of Timberton Complex is estimated at $3.4 million related to the 2017 tornado and $275,000 related to the replacement of the burned pressbox
April 29, 2020 – City of Hattiesburg files appeal of the February 13, 2020, Eligibility Determination Memo received from FEMA.
August 19, 2020 – City of Hattiesburg receives confirmation email that FEMA has received the first appeal for 4295-DR-MS City of Hattiesburg Project Worksheet (PW) 44.
December 4, 2020 – City of Hattiesburg receives email update from Mike Siler, MEMA Director of Public Assistance, that the appeal for 4295-DR-MS City of Hattiesburg Project Worksheet (PW) 44-Timberton remains in process.
January 28, 2021 – City of Hattiesburg receives email update from Mike Siler, MEMA Director of Public Assistance, that the appeal for 4295-DR-MS City of Hattiesburg Project Worksheet (PW) 44-Timberton is still in FEMA Review.
August 16, 2021 – City of Hattiesburg receives determination letter denying the appeal for 4295-DR-MS City of Hattiesburg PW (44) Timberton Park.
October 14, 2021 – City of Hattiesburg files a Request for Arbitration by the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) under the arbitration rights set forth in section 423 of the Stafford Act.
January 20, 2022 – The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) determined with finality the statement of work and the associated cost estimates to repair the damage to the softball complex shown to have been caused by the January 2017 disaster, as well as allowable and unallowable proposed hazard mitigation costs. This means that the CBCA agreed that the damages exist but not with the hazard mitigation of replacing the ballfield lights from wood poles to concrete or of replacing 5500 feet of ballfield fencing as being cost-effective.
January 3, 2023 – COH notified by FEMA that PW44 Timberton Park has been obligated.
January 6, 2023 – MEMA gives COH the go ahead to enter into the Construction Documents and Bidding Stage of the engineering contract with Neel Schaffer for the scope contained in the PW44. The COH, has asked FEMA to consider mitigating the ballfield lighting to concrete poles from wood poles to mitigate future damage to the system.
March 22, 2023 – FEMA issues a determination to the City’s request to mitigate the wood poles to concrete or steel poles. FEMA denies the eligibility as not cost-effective under the PAPPG test application selected. However, wooden poles do NOT meet wind load requirements under current code. There was not a determination stated from this perspective.
August 14, 2023 – Bid documents are nearing completion and 90% documents will be sent to FEMA before Friday, August 18, 2023, for their review. The goal is to have bid documents to City Council on September 19, 2023, for permission to advertise the project.
October 3, 2023 – COH City Council authorizes publication of advertisement for Timberton Complex, upon concurrence with FEMA.
November 16, 2023 – COH opened bids for the repairs at Timberton Complex. Three competitive bids were received.
December 4, 2023 – COH forwards the certified bid tab to FEMA for concurrence. The bid specifications, as required by FEMA, included the replacement of the ballfield light poles with wood poles. During the bidding process, alternative bids for concrete and steel poles were taken for comparison purposes to the wooden pole prices. The concrete pole bids came in lower than the wooden poles included in the base bid. The COH would prefer to use the more storm resistant, concrete poles.
March 5, 2024 – Hattiesburg City Council accepts a bid from Culpepper Construction & Masonry, LLC.
June 2024 – Construction begins to rebuild the complex.
January 28, 2025 – The complex is reopened.
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