Museum Trail
Museum Trail an urban greenway in Jackson, Mississippi connecting communities to museums, parks, nature, public art, and business districts.
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The Museum Trail Project is led by Jackson Heart Foundation, a 501c3 non profit organization with a mission to lead the fight against heart disease in Mississippi through education, prevention, and early detection.
When the project is complete, Museum Trail will total 6 miles, connecting 9 museums, 4 colleges, 6 new parks and public spaces, the farmers market, over 20 new public art installations, and 15 commercial districts and neighborhoods in Northeast Jackson, Downtown, and West Jackson. The project is broken into 8 phases with one phase currently completed and the other two in construction.
Our role in the project includes developing a complete trail masterplan, designing and building signs and wayfinding assets, grant writing to fundraise for trail building and public amenities, contractor management over infrastructure and landscaping, hosting charrettes and public meetings, communicating with stakeholders, web design and development, and media marketing/management to help promote existing phases and communicate future trail expansion.
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Year
2020 - Ongoing
Scale
6 Miles (Total)
2.8 Miles (Completed)
3.2 Miles (To Be Built)
Location
Jackson, Mississippi
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DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Planning Grant | $788,000
Community Foundation John F. and Lucy Shackelford Fund | $30,000
AARP Livable Communities Grant | 2024 - $20K
AARP Livable Communities Grant | 2022 - $20K
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APA Chapter President’s Award for Planning | Museum Trail | 2023
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Project Leaders
Jackson Heart Foundation
David Pharr, Museum Trail Founder & Board Member at Jackson Heart Foundation
Clay Hays, Founder of Museum Trail & Vice Chairman at Jackson Heart Foundation
Ray Neilsen, Sponsor & Project Manager of Museum Trail, Board Member at Jackson Heart Foundation
Morgan Geary, Executive Director at Jackson Heart Foundation
Melody Moody Thoris, Community Foundation for Mississippi
Susan Garrard, CEO of MCM, LeFleur Museum District Pedestrian Bridge and Path
Emilly Hoff, Executive Director of MCM, LeFleur Museum District Pedestrian Bridge and Path
Landscape Architect, Urban Planning
Travis Crabtree PLA
Engineering
Neel-Schaffer Engineering
Architecture
WBA Architecture - LeFleur Museum District Pedestrian Bridge and Path
Contractors
Hemphill Construction, Alliant Construction, SoHo Landscaping, Hederman Brothers
Media & Marketing, Brand Strategy, Community Outreach, Web Design & Development
Ansley Crabtree
Graphic Design
Tyler Tadlock, Original Logo
Photography
Ansley Crabtree, Travis Crabtree, April Garon Photography
In 2024, Museum Trail was awarded the DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant to extend the trail into Downtown Jackson.
Tree developed the downtown connector proposal and has successfully written a series of grants that have contributed to the continued growth and expansion of the future trail network in Jackson, Mississippi.
Celebrating a new landmark encouraging recreation, connection, and community pride.
In Spring 2025, TREE joined community partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting and planting ceremony for the Museum Trail Gateway Sign & Native Garden, a significant new landmark and beautification project. This initiative features native plantings and educational signage designed to raise awareness about pollinators and the importance of native plants in our ecosystem.
We collaborate with nonprofit organizations to develop brand consistency, clear messaging, and vibrant media content that encourages investment in Jackson’s public spaces.
Developing a cohesive visual identity that encompasses signage, products, website, and social media platforms to ensure consistent and effective brand communication for the Museum Trail.
In 2023, Museum Trail was awarded the APA MS Chapter President’s Award “In recognition of continuous planning efforts in Mississippi”
APA MS Conference 2023 (Left to Right): Travis Crabtree, Urban Designer & Landscape Architect, David Pharr, Trail Co-Founder, Ray Neilsen, Project Leader, Clay Hays, Trail Co-Founder, and Ben Requet, Director of Planning - City of Oxford
Developing the masterplan, establishing the brand identity, and effectively telling the story through various media channels have significantly supported and enhanced fundraising efforts.
The Downtown Phase for the Museum Trail, with a budget of $10 million, is supported by a combination of federal, state, and philanthropic funds. This collaborative financial effort ensures the successful development and enhancement of the trail in the urban core.
