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Mayor says bridge lighting, Jackson Street work and farmers market aim to boost downtown activity
Summary
Mayor Matt Zacher described efforts to draw more people downtown — a bridge-lighting schedule, Jackson Street reconfiguration with roundabouts, expanded farmers market and new parking — to support restaurants, bars and property redevelopment.
Mayor Matt Zacher told WFHR the city is pursuing multiple pieces of downtown infrastructure and programming to increase foot traffic and support businesses.
Zacher said a city group set an annual bridge-lighting schedule based on community input and national holidays, and that final decisions rest with his office. He described the bridge lights as the product of a long-term TIF project that took nearly a decade to complete.
On infrastructure, Zacher said the Jackson Street project (a phased reconstruction) will convert an older four-lane section into a more pedestrian-friendly Main Street corridor with roundabouts and defined parcels intended to attract developers and evening customers. He said the county parking lot work and the city’s parcel configuration will create opportunities for new restaurants and nightlife adjacent to Veterans Park.
"As we do that, we want to look at what's the best use of that property to bring more people downtown," Zacher said, tying road changes to the farmers market and evening activity.
The mayor also discussed efforts to educate drivers about roundabouts, suggesting informational videos to teach safe entry and navigation. He said the farmers market — held Thursdays and Saturdays — continues to grow and could become a more permanent downtown fixture as infrastructure improvements complete.
Zacher acknowledged the city faced budget pressures, noting an $850,000 cut to the 2026 budget, and framed redevelopment and an expanded tax base as part of sustaining municipal services going forward.
