Being a good sport in Tupelo is easy, with a variety of sports and recreational activities to enjoy. Here is a quick overview:

Super Swimming Soon

A new aquatics center is being planned for Tupelo – a 45,000-square-foot facility at Veteran's Park. The $12 million swimming complex will feature an Olympic-size pool along with a second pool for fitness and instruction classes. There will also be bleacher seating, offices, locker rooms and an outdoor area with a splash pad. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2012, with a tentative opening date of early 2014.

Tennis

Tennis is huge in Tupelo, with the Tupelo Tennis Association supporting the City of Tupelo’s tennis program. The association sponsors a variety of state-sanctioned tournaments for players of all ages, and applies for grants from the U.S. Tennis Association to enhance programs and facilities here. Schools throughout the city also offer tennis opportunities for students, while places such as the Rob Leake City Park tennis courts and the Tupelo Country Club provide nice venues to play.

Running

Running enthusiasts train for several races each year here, leading in prominence with the Tupelo Marathon and 14.2 Miler in September, sponsored by the Tupelo Running Club. The club also sponsors a Running With the King 5K during the annual Tupelo Elvis Festival, and organizes a yearly Gum Tree 10K and 2K Fun Run. The area is also home to the Golden Triangle Running Club.

Ballard Park Sportsplex

For a full range of activities, check out Ballard Park Sportsplex and its 153 acres of space dedicated to baseball, soccer and football plus a lot of other recreation amenities. Outside of sports, the park holds a three-acre lake, an amphitheater, skate park and disc golf course. It is also home to the Oren Dunn Museum and the Parks and Recreation Administrative Office.

Fishing

The diversity and number of fishing spots in Northeast Mississippi make Tupelo a fisherman's paradise. Some of the more popular spots include Enid Reservoir, Pickwick Lake, Lake Lamar Bruce, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Trace State Park and Elvis Presley Lake. The region is known for its crappie, smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish and bream fishing.

Golf

Lush greens and sculpted fairways await visitors to Tupelo’s various golf courses. The historic Bel Air public course offers nine holes, while members can enjoy the 72-par Tupelo Country Club course, ranked as one of the best tracts in Mississippi. The challenging Natchez Trace and Bermuda-grass Big Oaks 18-hole public courses can be found in nearby Saltillo.

Read about more fun things to do in Tupelo, MS.