Jackson Clarion-Ledger
New bridge to ease access to Jackson, MS, museums by foot or bike
By Ross Reily
Federal, state and local officials gathered Wednesday, Aug. 19, to break ground on a new pedestrian and biking bridge that will connect parks, museums and outdoor attractions on both sides of Lakeland Drive in Jackson.
The bridge will span Lakeland Drive between LeFleur's Bluff State Park and Jamie Fowler Boyll Park, creating a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists traveling through the LeFleur Museum District. Officials said the project will connect some of Mississippi's most-visited cultural attractions, including the Mississippi Children's Museum, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
Among those participating in the groundbreaking ceremony, according to a press release from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, were U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons and Jackson Mayor John Horhn.
MDOT said the project is being funded through federal dollars secured with Hyde-Smith's support along with state appropriations. The agency said the bridge will "create a safe and accessible connection between the museums, parks and outdoor attractions" that make up one of Mississippi's premier cultural destinations.
Part of broader LeFleur's Bluff redevelopment
The bridge is a centerpiece of the broader redevelopment effort underway at LeFleur's Bluff State Park. Earlier this year, the Mississippi Legislature approved $13 million for infrastructure improvements in the approximately 104 acres of the park, including lighting, security upgrades and repairs intended to prepare the property for future development. Gov. Tate Reeves signed the legislation in April.
The redevelopment is being coordinated by the LeFleur's Bluff Conservancy, a nonprofit organization created to oversee long-term improvements to the park under a lease agreement with the state.
In an interview with the Clarion Ledger earlier this year, conservancy board chair Susan Garrard said the organization follows a model used successfully in other cities.
The model, Garrard said, is similar to conservancies in other cities, such as those that help manage Central Park in New York and City Park in New Orleans, which combine public funding with private fundraising to maintain and expand large urban parks.
Bridge viewed as key connection
Garrard previously described the bridge as essential to the conservancy's vision of creating a connected network of trails and attractions throughout the district.
"That'll be a key piece to bring this online," Garrard told the Clarion Ledger in April, referring to the bridge's role in linking trail systems and extending the Museum Trail across Lakeland Drive.
Plans for the site include expanded trails, recreational facilities and a future community hub near the North Jackson Youth Baseball Complex.
"We see that hub as allowing us to be able to do things in the future," Garrard said, pointing to possibilities such as bike rentals and expanded programming.
Timeline and future plans
The LeFleur Museum District already attracts roughly 500,000 visitors annually, according to conservancy officials. Recent improvements include Spotter's Adventure Trail, the LeFleur's Bluff Playground and a redesigned entrance to the Mississippi Children's Museum campus.
Construction on the bridge was previously expected to begin in late summer 2026, with completion projected for spring 2027. Once finished, it will provide a direct pedestrian connection across Lakeland Drive between the park and attractions north of the roadway, further advancing the conservancy's long-term vision for one of Jackson's largest public green spaces.
Jackson Beat Reporter Charlie Drape contributed to this story.