WITH CITY workers cleaning it up, Greater Belhaven Neighborhood Foundation members say plans to transform the all-but-forgotten Belhaven Park into a serene green space are coming to fruition.

Executive Director Virgi Lindsay said crews from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department have been working there for about two weeks, in anticipation of a much larger cleanup and restoration effort expected to begin next month.

On March 28, the foundation is expected to present its plans before the city’s Historic Preservation Commission for consideration. And, pending approval, plans to revitalize the park will move forward.

“Because we’re in a historic neighborhood, we want to make sure our design meets the guidelines of the commission,” she said. “We want to be good stewards of the park.”

Lindsay envisions transforming the park between Poplar Street and Moody Creek into a large green space with park benches, sidewalks and places to meditate. Plans also call for adding a new fence. “It will be a great outdoor space for people to read and meditate,” she said.

In addition, she expects many professionals, like those working at Baptist Hospital just up the road, and college students from Belhaven and Millsaps to frequent the area. The park, although open to children as well, won’t feature any playground equipment, Lindsay said.

ONCE THE CITY finishes its general cleanup, the foundation will begin the real work. Foundation Consultant Corrine Fox said crews will have to remove a concrete slab where a home once stood and grade the land in some places to level it. The foundation will also have to repair sidewalks and add benches.

Architect Overton Moore has provided artist renderings for the park free of charge to the group.

The foundation hasn’t received an estimate for the improvements. Last year, though, officials had collected more than $100,000 in pledges to make improvements.

“It’s a city-owned park,” she said. “We’re just making the improvements. We believe it will really enhance the neighborhood.”

The neighborhood where the park is located, although declared a historic district, is filled with rental properties. “This will be a very sophisticated area that will feel a lot like a formal garden,” she said.

One resident, John Goerlich, said he’s looking forward to the park being revitalized.

Goerlich walks by the park each day with his dog and he’s already seen signs of improvement.

“The area has been underutilized for several years and has become an eyesore,” said Goerlich, the co-owner of G2 Fitness in North Jackson. “When it’s finished, I understand it will be great.”

The Belhaven Foundation began their efforts to restore the park and enlarge it last year. The foundation purchased a small piece of property opposite of Kenwood Place, a street that dead-ends halfway into the park. Then, they received approval from the Jackson City Council to close off the roadway, which doubled the size of the park, Lindsay said.

Kenwood is now blocked off by wooden flower planters.

The foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization charged with enhancing, improving, protecting and promoting the Greater Belhaven area. the area runs from High Street to Woodrow Wilson Drive and from Congress Street to I-55.