Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park is a proposed 150-acre park and trail network along the Pearl River connecting the City of Jackson to its riverfront.
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Riverfront Park is a proposed public park designed to reconnect Downtown Jackson with the Pearl River through a vibrant, ecologically sensitive, and recreationally rich landscape. The concept envisions a passive park that includes a terraced outdoor amphitheater, multi-use trails and elevated boardwalks, a sandbar with public boat docks, scenic overlooks, wetland conservation and retention zones, and opportunities for future infill development along Commerce Street.
Currently in the conceptual design and planning phase, the project is seeking additional support to advance into technical engineering, survey analysis, and site preparation. Importantly, Riverfront Park is designed to be flexible so it can move forward independently or in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Alternative D1 Flood Control Solution. Whether or not the flood control project proceeds, the key features of the park remain: the amphitheater berm will anchor the park’s western edge at its highest elevation, while the wetland and sandbar elements will enhance the eastern riverfront, supporting both ecological function and public access.
The park is sited on a former landfill, currently undevelopable without significant remediation. This challenge is turned into an opportunity: the site will be capped and reshaped into a large, grassy landform inspired by the nearby Jackson Volcano. The elevated topography will provide sweeping views of the Pearl River and downtown skyline, introducing a unique public vantage point not currently available in Jackson. The park will be open daily for walking, biking, and passive recreation, and serve as a performance and gathering space during evenings and weekends.
Strategically located along Commerce Street and Town Creek, Riverfront Park is positioned to catalyze economic revitalization in South Downtown. With an estimated cost of $25 million, the project could achieve significant savings by reusing excavated soil from the flood control project to construct the amphitheater berm and park elevations, minimizing hauling and landfill costs while supporting a sustainable and cost-efficient site strategy.
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2024 - Ongoing
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150 Acres
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Jackson, Mississippi
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Project Partners
Great City Mississippi Foundation | Downtown Jackson Partners | Commerce Street Business District | City of Jackson
Commemorating Local Geological History
The park is sited on a former landfill, currently undevelopable without significant remediation. This challenge is turned into an opportunity: the site could be capped and reshaped into a large, grassy landform inspired by the nearby “Jackson Volcano,” now known as The Mississippi Coliseum. The berm’s elevated topography would provide sweeping views of the Pearl River and downtown skyline, introducing a unique public vantage point currently non-existent in Jackson.
From abandoned landfill to riverfront gathering space.
The proposed Riverfront Park would be open daily to the public for walking, biking, and a variety of passive recreational activities. The constructed berm, envisioned here as “The Volcano Amphitheater,” would function as a vibrant performance and gathering space, hosting events during evenings and weekends for the community to enjoy.
