Colonial Heights West Builds Relationships to Make Necessary Improvements
Colonial Heights West, located in West Jackson on the Capitol Street corridor across from the Jackson Zoo and Livingston Park, is working to strengthen its neighborhood by building relationships with city leaders and community organizations. These efforts are focused on accessing necessary resources and information to improve the area.
To reinforce relationships and build momentum, Colonial Heights West and neighboring Country Club Place meet monthly on the second Saturday at Livingston Park at 10 am. "It's fantastic that the Colonial Heights West and Country Club Place neighborhoods meet at Livingston Park every month," said JAN President Andy Frame. "The more we use our city parks, the more people will be exposed to them, and the better they'll become."
At the recent neighborhood association meeting on July 13, representatives from the Jackson Police Department (JPD) Community Engagement Unit and Ward 5 City Councilman Vernon Hartley addressed resident concerns about infrastructure and crime prevention. Frame also encouraged residents to form a Friends of Livingston Park group. "Our Love Jackson Parks project focuses on strategically improving our city parks. Having a Friends of Livingston Park group will significantly help direct resources and foster community development in and around the park,” said Frame.
The JPD Community Engagement Unit aims to connect with community groups like Colonial Heights West and Country Club Place to address neighborhood-level issues. Residents expressed concerns to the unit about illegal activity at local businesses and the fear of confronting armed young adults. Corporals Trena Yarber and LaTesha Wells assured residents that their problems would be addressed and provided a direct contact line to improve communication between the city and the neighborhood.
JPD Community Engagement Unit Corporal Trena Yarber
“The Community Engagement Unit acts as a liaison between citizens and our constituents,” said Yarber. “A resident may have an issue with a fellow neighbor. We will step in as mediators to solve problems on the ground before they elevate. This is our first time meeting with this neighborhood and we look forward to assisting them in the future.”
Ward 5 City Councilman Vernon Hartley addressed concerns about sinkholes and other infrastructure issues. He expressed his support for Colonial Heights West and assured residents that these matters would be addressed at the city level through Constituent Services. Hartley also invited residents to attend Ward 5 Day at Livingston Park on Saturday, July 20, to network with other city leaders and vendors.
For more information about Colonial Heights West, contact President Sheka Epps at sheka.epps@revitalizems.org.
Related Stories
