Jackson District Library, City Partner to Provide Free WIFI in Horace Blackman Park

Horace Blackman Park during a Food Truck Tuesday event this summer.  JTV photo.

(September 27, 2021 10:58 AM) The Jackson District Library today announced it is partnering with the City of Jackson to provide free WIFI Internet access to downtown Jackson visitors.

After partnering with the Jackson Area Transportation Authority to provide free WIFI to passengers on JATA buses in May, JDL administrators worked with city of Jackson officials this summer to provide WIFI access to those in and around Horace Blackman Park in downtown Jackson.

The free WIFI will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“One of our main initiatives has always been increasing Internet access to area residents,” JDL Director Sara Tackett said. “With this most recent initiative, we took another step in accomplishing this goal. We are always looking for ways to form community partnerships with other organizations to help area residents discover, learn, and succeed.”

Jackson Parks and Recreation Director Kelli Hoover says she collaborated with city staff to make this improvement happen. City of Jackson employees worked to retrofit a light post in the park to allow JDL employees to install the necessary hardware to provide the area WIFI access.

“With more people coming downtown for shopping, dining, and events, adding free WiFi will really enhance the visitor experience,” Hoover said. “We thank the district library for working with us on this first-ever installment of free WiFi in a Jackson park.”

Library officials said they’ll continue to seek out partnership opportunities to help area residents gain access to the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century.

“Thousands of people in Jackson County still depend on public computers and Internet access venues despite the global proliferation of mobile phones and home computers,” Tackett said. “In 2021 and beyond, Internet access should not be considered a luxury.”