Bicentennial
Projects
$78.5 Million and Counting
As the city enters the next 200 years, there are some exciting projects underway that speak to our future.
Jackson Planetarium Renovation
$15 Million
An extensive renovation of the city’s planetarium is underway, which will create a cutting-edge facility aiming to blur the line between education and entertainment and present a totally fresh take on the genre that will completely set itself apart from the rest. The Planetarium’s comprehensive restoration will honor the history of the original facility while using a fresh aesthetic that engages our new friends and future visitors, and center itself as the hub of Jackson’s burgeoning cultural and tourism scene. The project is set for a 2024 completion date, and visitors are invited to check in on the project as “a next-level space journey awaits.”
LeFleur’s Bluff Playground
$8 Million
A new state-of-the-art playground recently opened at the LeFleur’s Bluff Education and Tourism Complex. The complex is on the shared campus between the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and the Mississippi Children’s Museum. The first phase of the project is a 21st century playground featuring 80 play activities, 73 of which are inclusive to children with accessibility needs. A custom We-Go-Swing allows accessibility to children with and without wheelchairs. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is the signature sponsor of the LeFleur’s Bluff Playground, Outdoor Pavilion and Museum Trail. The Foundation’s generous $3.86 million grant for improving the health and well-being of Mississippians made this project possible.
Capri, Highball Lanes & The Pearl
$13 Million
The Capri Theatre in Fondren is preparing for a December 2021 opening after being closed for 30+ years. The theatre, a Mississippi Landmark, opened in 1940 as The Pix and was renamed The Capri in the 1960s. Local developers are completing an historic renovation of the theatre along with two adjacent storefronts. The result is an entertainment complex that includes Highball Lanes, a 10-lane boutique bowling alley, The Pearl, an immersive tiki bar, and the new Capri, a state of the art, dine-in cinema with 178 luxury recliners, laser projection, and Dolby surround sound. All three concepts will be operated by famed Mississippi restaurateur, Robert St. John.
Fertile Ground Beer Co.
Fertile Ground Beer Co., a production craft brewery and taproom, will open in the Spring of 2022 in the historic Belhaven neighborhood. Fertile Ground will be a progressive and innovative craft brewery creating bright, clean, and contemporary beer utilizing traditional brewing techniques. Recognizing the transcendent nature of beer, Fertile Ground will brew beer to connect people and cultivate community.
Belhaven Town Center
The Belhaven Town Center (BTC) is a unique urban development in Mississippi’s largest Historic District. This project “retrofits” a cultural and social hub into the middle of an existing, vibrant, historic neighborhood in the heart of Jackson. Using the “Urban Magnet Theory”, local developers (who all live in Belhaven) purchased two city blocks and rapidly transformed a neglected area into the very heartbeat of the community.
Currently, BTC offers (1) Elvie’s Restaurant; (2) District Donuts / Sliders / Brews; (3) Spectrum Sip; and (4) Private office space. 2022 will see many exciting additions including: Residential units; More office space; Completion of a mixed use building; Outdoor entertainment courtyard; Retail; and Jackson’s only Brewery – Fertile Ground Beer Company!
Museum Trail
$5.9 MILLION (UPCOMING PHASES)
Museum Trail is a multi-use trail connecting the city to museums, parks, and communities. The trail connects the Mississippi Farmers Market to the Mississippi Agriculture Museum, with access to three parks and six museums. Once completed, the trail will offer more access to culture and nature. Phase I construction was completed late 2020, with the trail now officially open and Phase II scheduled to begin as early 2022. The Museum Trail is a success story of community collaboration, asked and advocated for by citizens, supported by local businesses and created with the city of Jackson paving the way. Walkers, runners, cyclists, rollerbladers, nature lovers and explorers of all ages and in all parts of the city will enjoy the scenic trail connecting Downtown Jackson to Lakeland Drive and cultural attractions throughout the Capital City.