Smith Park

An Antebellum Commons Downtown

Smith Park is one of the oldest continuously used antebellum city parks in America. The State of Mississippi received this land from the federal government when Jackson was chosen as the state capital in 1821, and in 1838 the Legislature established the park as a commons "for the health, ornament, and convenience of the city of Jackson."

Its roots go back to the 1822 city plan drawn up by attorney Peter Van Dorn, which left alternate blocks as undeveloped woodland. Smith Park is the only surviving undeveloped block from that plan: 2.35 acres in the heart of downtown near Amite Street, just north of the Governor's Mansion.

Monuments and a Namesake

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2017, the park is home to several monuments, including the W.J. Davis Monument (1918) and the Rob Morris Monument (1934).

It takes its name from James Smith, a Scottish businessman who ran hardware and furniture stores in Jackson from 1834 to 1850 and later paid for a fence around the park, built in 1884.

Lawns, Shade Trees and a Stage

Today the park is open green space with gently rolling hills and big, mature shade trees. Paved paths with benches lead past a covered pavilion and a semi-covered platform stage, and there are chess tables too, though they've seen better days. Look out for the Fertile Ground Project, an art installation that adds a layer of cultural interest.

The park has been reshaped more than once. A renovation in the mid-1970s added an amphitheater with sunken seating, an artificial stream and wider walkways; a later multi-phase restoration by Downtown Jackson Partners and the City of Jackson removed dead and dying trees, deteriorating concrete waterways and berms, and re-sodded the grounds into a more open, level space.

The stage hosts concerts, arts and crafts and cultural events, and the park regularly sees festivals, food trucks, fitness activities, picnics and private gatherings like parties and reunions. You can rent it through the City of Jackson's Parks and Recreation Department. There's no on-site parking, so plan ahead.