MACON, Ga. — On Tuesday, Macon-Bibb commissioners will vote to approve a $2.5 million project to renovate Rosa Parks Square in downtown Macon.
For Andrea Cooke, years of advocacy with the Friends of Rosa Parks Square Board could finally see a happy ending.
"It's been a long time coming," Cooke said. "It's a place for people to come and protest. It's a place of empowerment. And we're just so excited. Now this space will be able to be better utilized.
The Friends of Rosa Parks board was created in 2019 to improve the area in honor of the civil rights leader.
"We cannot thank the mayor and commission enough for allocating these funds," Cooke said. "The money's being allocated and an organization has been identified who will make the changes to the park."
Stafford Builders and Consultants, Inc., a local black-owned business, will be in charge of making those updates happen.
The renovations will include more trees, picnic areas and a luminaries wall to honor local leaders.
"It'll also be an opportunity for there to be an extension of what happens here during the holidays where everything is lit up," Cooke said. "It's an opportunity for the Christmas lights to be expanded this way and for people to join. Maybe there'll be some fun things that happen as a result of it being a little bit more complete."
Better lighting is exactly what Marquis Burns is hoping for First Street year-round.
His storefront "Sixth Ave" faces Rosa Parks Square.
He's hopeful that the renovations could spark even more additions to this side of town, like lighting and parking.
"We don't get as normal foot traffic as Cherry Street does, that's because we don't have as many shops and restaurants on this side," Burns said. "I would just hope that they would bring more lighting to the area, bring more shopping to the area. I hope this brings more foot traffic because downtown is a lovely place. It's a beautiful place."
Cooke says there is not yet a confirmed date for when construction could start, but is hopeful that people will continue using the space until they break ground.