ELKHART, Ind. -- Elkhart city leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony on the River District Streetscape Project Thursday morning.

Mayor Tim Neese, along with project planning, design and construction officials broke ground on the project.

The project includes a completely reconstructed streetscape on Jackson Boulevard and Elkhart Avenue.

It will include a new divided boulevard on Jackson, new and buried utilities, on-street parking, bicycle paths, street lighting, signals and landscaping.

Mayor Neese says it's an exciting investment in the city.

"It's about people. It's about jobs. It's about attracting individuals that come from outside of our city and county that now we want to recruit and have them not only work here but to live here as well," Mayor Neese said.

Phase one begins in March with the closure of Jackson Boulevard from Waterfall Drive to Junior Achievement Drive.

Click here for more information on the project: www.elkhartriverdistrict.com.