Plaza, Jockey Street, and Manchester Market Project
Building a Vibrant Downtown in the Heart of Clay County
Over the past year, exciting progress has been underway in downtown Manchester as we continue transforming the Plaza, revitalizing Jockey Street, and laying the foundation for the Manchester Market Project. These efforts are part of a bigger vision: breathing new life into our downtown, strengthening community pride, and creating spaces that welcome visitors and support local businesses.
Jockey Street Revitalization
Jockey Street—once a key artery of downtown Manchester—is being reimagined as a vibrant corridor that blends history with opportunity. Improvements have included new retaining walls, sidewalk work, and signage, all with the goal of creating a welcoming, walkable space that ties directly into the Plaza and downtown market area.
This project isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about storytelling. Jockey Street carries with it layers of Clay County history, and our updates have been designed to highlight that heritage while preparing the area for modern uses. The revitalized Jockey Street will connect the dots between our past and future: from riverbank industry and coal heritage to outdoor adventure and entrepreneurship.
Looking Ahead
From retaining walls and riverbank cleanups to walkways, markets, and kayak launches, each piece of progress represents a step forward in reshaping Manchester’s downtown. What was once a set of disconnected projects is now becoming a unified vision—a riverside downtown where adventure, history, and community meet.
These efforts are about more than construction; they’re about transformation. They’re about giving our people and our visitors a place to gather, celebrate, and believe in what Clay County has to offer.
As we’ve shared along the way: Manchester is becoming a “Small Town with Big Adventure,” and the best is still ahead
