IN MARCH OF 2021, DOWNTOWN JACKSON PARTNERS HELD A LIGHTING CEREMONY IN CELEBRATION OF THE NEW BISTRO LIGHTS DRAPING THE CANOPY OF SMITH PARK AND ADDING A TOUCH OF AMBIANCE TO ONE OF THE OLDEST PARKS IN AMERICA AND TO OUR CAPITAL CITY.
OVER THE YEARS, DOWNTOWN JACKSON PARTNERS HAS WORKED TO MODERNIZE SMITH PARK ACCORDING TO THE SMITH PARK MASTER PLAN, AND CREATE A SPACE THAT IS SAFE AND ENJOYABLE FOR OUR DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND EMPLOYEES. WE RECOGNIZED THAT LIGHTING HAD BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST NEEDS FOR THE SPACE; FROM SAFETY, TO THE ABILITY TO RAISE FUNDS MORE EASILY FOR LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS, TO THE REFRESHED ATMOSPHERE IT SO DESPERATELY NEEDED.
THE LIGHTING PROJECT CONSISTED OF WORKING WITH DAVAINE LIGHTING OF JACKSON TO STRING APPROXIMATELY 1,200 LED “BISTRO” STRING LIGHTING BETWEEN AND AMONG THE TREES PLACED THROUGHOUT THE PARK. DJP PRESIDENT JOHN GOMEZ WORKED WITH CITY OF JACKSON OFFICIALS ON INSTALLING AN ELECTRICAL POLE, POWER ALTERATIONS TO THE CURRENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND CONNECTION OF THE NEW LIGHTS.
SINCE THE ADDITION OF THE NEW BISTRO LIGHTS, SMITH PARK HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN PARK VISITORS AND POSITIVE EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS.
THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI, WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN PARTNERING ON THE PROJECT, AND THE SHACKELFORD FUND, SMITH PARK NOW FEATURES NEWLY INSTALLED BISTRO LIGHTING DRAPED AMONG ITS CANOPY, ADDING AN EXTRA SOURCE OF LIGHTING ALONG WITH A TOUCH OF AMBIANCE. “WE ARE THRILLED THE JOHN AND LUCY SHACKELFORD FUND COULD SUPPORT THIS LIGHTING PROJECT TO ENHANCE SMITH PARK AND PROVIDE A PLEASANT AND SAFE SPACE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ENJOY USING IT,” SAYS JANE ALEXANDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI.
ISON HARRIS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THE CITY OF JACKSON, SAID “THE CITY AND ITS PATRONS HAVE ALL BENEFITTED TREMENDOUSLY FROM THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN BOTH OUR ENTITIES. DOWNTOWN JACKSON PARTNERS HAS ASSISTED WITH THE RENOVATIONS OF SMITH PARK BY PROVIDING A PLETHORA OF PARK ENHANCEMENTS SUCH AS LANDSCAPING, ADDITIONAL LIGHTING, BENCHES AND TRASH RECEPTACLES. THE CITY OF JACKSON, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF DOWNTOWN JACKSON PARTNERS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME! DOWNTOWN JACKSON PARTNERS IS VITAL TO OUR CITY AND COMMUNITY!”
DOWNTOWN JACKSON PARTNERS WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO FULFILL THE SMITH PARK RENAISSANCE PROJECT, AND WILL ENJOY THE NEW BISTRO LIGHTS FOR YEARS TO COME.