Museum Trail Phase One Ribbon Cutting

State and city officials gathered in January 2021 for Museum Trail Phase One Ribbon Cutting, announcing the first section in Belhaven Neighborhood. The completed trail will total over six miles and connect from LeFleur Museum District to Downtown Jackson.

“We are thrilled to open up this roughly two-mile scenic pathway that includes a pedestrian bridge through the heart of Jackson,” said Commissioner Willie Simmons, Central Transportation District. “Investing in multi-use paths like this Museum Trail has many benefits that impact the community, such as increasing safety conditions, tourism, tax revenue, and urban redevelopment while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for all citizens.”

According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), the first 2.5-mile section of Museum Trail follows the abandoned GM&O Railroad from Downtown Jackson through Greater Belhaven and along the eastern border of LeFleur’s Bluff State Park. The rail-trail portion of the trail is now complete and runs from Laurel Street to the entrance of the Mississippi’s Farmers Market on Jefferson Street.

The Museum Trail provides access to four remarkable museums and three parks: the Mississippi History Museum, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Mississippi Children’s Museum, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Belhaven Heights Park, Laurel Street Park, LeFleur’s Bluff State Park.

“Trail systems and greenways help to revitalize cities and improve the health and wellbeing of citizens. We are thrilled to be cutting the ribbon on the Museum Trail,” says Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. “Constructed specifically for exercise and non-motorized transportation, this trail will connect our city to its rich history and positively impact the health of our citizens and the economic development of our community.”