JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Jackson announced a three-phase project that aims to attract new businesses, generate revenue and create higher foot traffic in the downtown area.

Phase one of the Pulse at Farish Street project will see a community greenspace with a stage for entertainment purposes. Phase two would include a vendor and skate park, along with pickleball courts. Phase three would be a parking lot that would serve as a pad lot for a future hotel for the convenience of the Jackson Convention Complex.

“It’s important, not only because we have a beautiful convention center that often is unable to compete with surrounding or regional cities, because we don’t have the convenience,” said Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba.

The project is set to cost the City of Jackson $6 million. Jhai Keeton, director of Planning and Development for the City of Jackson, said the money to get phase one has been secured, and they hope to break ground soon.

Keeton said he knows all eyes are on getting a hotel to accommodate the convention center, but the city has to make downtown more attractive for a future hotel.

“I was recruited to come to the City of Jackson for this project. So, you’re not going to have a hotel in 12 months. You’re not going to have a hotel in three years. But what we’re not going to do is wait for a hotel before we start improving our property. So, this is phase one to attract new people downtown and attract the value to the site, which would then make it more palatable to attract investment for hotel,” Keeton said.

Jackson leaders said they plan to break ground for phase one in the coming months. They estimate the community park will generate $800,000 in year one.