Foundation for Mississippi History Receives $1.4 million to Advance Crigler Park Development
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has announced $1.4 million in new funding to support the development of Margaret Ann Crigler Park in downtown Jackson, with $500,000 from the Phil Hardin Foundation, $500,000 from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) through its Building Fund for the Arts (BFA) program and two separate $200,000 gifts from anonymous donors.
All gifts were given to the Foundation for Mississippi History and announced at a news conference on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
“Support from the Phil Hardin Foundation, the Mississippi Arts Commission and the private donors represent strong community buy-in on a project that will connect visitors to Mississippi’s history and culture,” Spence Flatgard, president of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, said during a news conference across from the park site. “Their generosity brings us closer to making Crigler Park a vibrant space for reflection and learning in the Jackson community.”
Located adjacent to the Two Mississippi Museums, the completed park will feature native Mississippi foliage, a large open green space, an outdoor stage, and a play area designed especially for children. The park is a project of MDAH and will be part of the city’s Museum Trail.
Park construction is expected to begin early next year. The first phase will be completed in 2027.
“The Two Mississippi Museums are educational and cultural treasures for our state, and the Phil Hardin Foundation has been a proud supporter since their inception,” said Lloyd Gray, executive director of the Phil Hardin Foundation. “We are delighted to continue that partnership with this grant for the children’s area at Crigler Park, which will both complete the Two Mississippi Museums campus and allow for expanded learning opportunities for students from across Mississippi. We also view this as an investment in the revitalization of our capital city, which is crucial for Mississippi to reach its full potential.”
MAC awarded the Foundation for Mississippi History the BFA grant for the park’s construction. This follows a $225,000 BFA grant awarded last year, bringing the total MAC investment to $725,000.
“The arts enhance the quality of life and local economies,” said David Lewis, MAC executive director. “With the generous support from the Mississippi Legislature, we can activate our citizens’ innate creativity and invest in our communities.”
MAC is a state agency serving more than 2 million people through grants and special initiatives that enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations, promote arts education, and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. The commission is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and other private sources.
The Phil Hardin Foundation’s goal “is to be a catalyst for educational opportunity and community improvement in Mississippi.”
From 2015 to 2024, the Hardin Foundation has paid out $32 million in grants to improve student achievement; make educational and enrichment opportunities more available and equitable; increase understanding of Mississippi arts, culture and history; and build community capacity.
The park project was launched with an initial $1 million gift from retired businessman Noble T. Crigler, made in memory of his late wife, Margaret Ann Crigler. The gift established the foundation for the project. The Mississippi Legislature has since provided $3 million in state support to advance its construction.
Learn more about the project at mdah.ms.gov/criglerpark.
The Foundation for Mississippi History is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that conducts fundraising efforts to support and promote the projects and programs of MDAH, which operates the Museum of Mississippi History, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Eudora Welty House & Garden, Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, Old Capitol Museum, Windsor Ruins, Historic Jefferson College, and Winterville Mounds.
For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.
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