DOWNTOWN JACKSON PARTNERS LAUNCHED THE 2020FOCUS COMMITTEE GROUPS AT THE BEGINNING OF YEAR 2020 IN AN EFFORT TO ORGANIZE A WIDE RANGE OF PROJECTS WITHIN SEVERAL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, AND OFFER A PLATFORM IN WHICH DJP BOARD MEMBERS COULD GET MORE INVOLVED IN AREAS OF THEIR INTEREST. FIVE FOCUS AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED FOR THE YEAR WHICH CENTERED AROUND BEAUTIFICATION, PLACEMAKING, HOMELESSNESS, AND SAFETY, AS WELL AS THE CONTINUATION OF THE SMITH PARK RENAISSANCE PROJECT. EACH COMMITTEE IS LED BY A COMMITTEE CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING MEETINGS AMONGST MEMBERS, AND PROVIDING A QUARTERLY UPDATE TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ADVISORY COUNCIL AT EACH DJP BOARD MEETING.
ALTHOUGH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC OF 2020 HALTED COMMITTEE EFFORTS FOR A MINIMAL TIME, EACH COMMITTEE CAME BACK WITH A REFRESHED VIGOR, MAKING GREAT STRIDES THROUGH THE UNCHARTED WATERS OF WHICH OUR COUNTRY AND STATE WITNESSED DURING THE YEAR.
BEAUTIFICATION: WHETHER IT’S INCREASING PROPERTY VALUES OR ENHANCING MOODS, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT AESTHETICALLY PLEASING SPACES DRIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR INCREASED REVENUE STREAMS. THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE WAS CREATED TO SPARK IDEAS AND DEVELOP COST EFFECTIVE PROPOSALS ON ENHANCING DOWNTOWN’S AESTHETICS, INCLUDING LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING, REPAIRS, CURB APPEAL AND OVERALL PERCEPTION.
SMITH PARK: THE SMITH PARK COMMITTEE WAS CREATED TO FOCUS ON THE CONTINUED EFFORTS OF THE SMITH PARK RENAISSANCE PROJECT, WHICH WAS INITIALLY FORMED IN 2013. UNDER THE SMITH PARK RENAISSANCE PROJECT, THE PARK HAS UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH TO DO TO BRING THE PARK UP TO PAR WITH SUCCESSFUL PARKS IN NEIGHBORING CITIES. WITH NEWFOUND ATTENTION ON THE PARK, ALONG WITH PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE TIME IS RIGHT TO REFOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON RESTORING ONE OF THE OLDEST PARKS IN AMERICA AND ONE OF DOWNTOWN’S TREASURED JEWELS.
SAFETY: STRIVING TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR EVERYONE WITHIN DOWNTOWN IS A BIG TASK, BUT IT’S AN IMPORTANT ONE. FOCUSING ON HOW WE CAN TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ACCIDENT AND CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY WITHIN OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT WILL ENHANCE THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE WORLD’S TOP RATED “SAFEST CITIES” ARE CONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG THE TOP RATED “BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN”.
HOMELESSNESS: HOMELESSNESS IS AN ISSUE FOR DOWNTOWN JACKSON. THANKFULLY, OUR DOWNTOWN DOES NOT HAVE THE FULL EXTENT OF ISSUES THAT NEARLY ALL OTHER MAJOR CITIES POSSESS. HOWEVER, OUR PROPERTY OWNERS, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS FEEL THE EFFECTS OF HOMELESSNESS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS HAVE INCREASED ACROSS THE STATE, AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE NEW FACES MAKING THEIR WAY DOWNTOWN, BRINGING A CRIMINAL HISTORY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE GATHERS INPUT ON THE CURRENT SITUATION, WORKS WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO DJP STAFF AND BOARD ON WHAT DJP CAN DO TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYONE.
PLACEMAKING: THE PLACEMAKING COMMITTEE WAS FORMED TO PRIORITIZE UNDER-UTILIZED, UNAPPEALING AREAS OF THE DOWNTOWN BID WITH THE AIM OF CREATIVELY IMPROVING THE SPACE’S QUALITY, TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT’S OVERALL HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING BY SPARKING INTEREST AND CAUSING GREATER INTERACTION AND LASTING MEMORIES BETWEEN AND AMONG PEOPLE. THE PROJECTS ARE BASED ON THE ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY, STIRRING ENGAGEMENT AND BUILDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.