Construction of Waterworks Connector is finally underway after groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday. This construction will mark second phase of the Museum Trail.
LeFleur Museum District to Belhaven and downtown Jackson is connected by the waterworks connector via a new multi-purpose walkway.
The Museum Trail is Jackson’s first multipurpose trail system in the of the city. Phase 1 of the trail was completed in late 2020 and runs from Laurel Street to the Mississippi Farmers Market entrance on Jefferson Street.
“We’ve been working to make this journey a reality for more than a decade, and it’s unreal to finally make it areality,” said David Pharr, Board Member of the Jackson Heart Foundation. “We’ve been thrilled to see so many people using the first phase of the trail to commute back and forth between Belhaven and downtown Jackson over the last two and a half years, but this section is connected to the LeFleur Museum District via this new waterworks Junction. That this track really starts with to unify Jackson in an accessible way.”
The Museum Trail provides access to four museums and three parks: Mississippi History Museum, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Mississippi Children’s Museum, Mississippi Museum of Natural Sciences, Belhaven Heights Park, Laurel Street Park, and LeFleur’s Bluff State Park.
“This new section is a significant milestone and is critical to the overall development of the trail,” said Clay Hays, Jackson Heart Foundation Board Member. “We’ve seen these trails have a huge impact on cities across the country. Not only do they make it easier for people to cycle, walk, or run across the city, they also create opportunities for amenities like parks, public art, and positive experiences for residents and visitors to our city. This connector is a huge step forward and we are pleased that construction has finally started.
“It’s rare that a project of this magnitude gets private funding, but because there are so many people and organizations in Jackson who believe in Museum Trail, we’re able to move forward,” Pharr said. “We would like to thank the Heart Foundation of Jackson, the Foundation Ergon and Ray Neilsen for the generosity they have given us. Here, too, we would like to say a special thank you
Construction of second phase of Museum Trail is expected to be completed later this year.
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