Five neighborhood parks are looking “merry and bright” this holiday season thanks to a local non-profit organization. People for the Parks and Trails (PPT) worked with the City of Jackson to install lights in Betsy Butterfield Park, Elnora Moorman Plaza, Ganson Street Park, Austin Blair Park and Kiwanis Park.
Volunteers installed lights with the permission of the Parks and Recreation Department in Nov., with the displays turning on after Thanksgiving. PPT collaborated with the Kiwanis Club of Jackson to put up lights and holiday decor at Kiwanis Park off N. Elm Avenue.
The non-profit is focused on improving Jackson’s parks and trails through volunteering, fundraising and advocacy. 2022 was a busy year for PPT, with the group completing volunteer projects at seven parks, two pedestrian trails and one cemetery. Volunteers expanded the number of light projects they did this year after lighting up two parks in 2021.
A Christmas in July fundraiser was held in the summer so PPT could purchase lights for the parks. “We thank everyone who has helped make such a positive project happen for the community,” said PPT President Aaron Dimick. “These lights add a lot of holiday cheer to our neighborhoods and shows everyone that Jackson is a welcoming community that cares about our public spaces.”
PPT plans on leaving the lights on through the first week of Jan.
Kiwanis Park
Ganson Street Park
Elnora Moorman Plaza
Betsy Butterfield Park
Austin Blair Park