From NewTown Macon – Community leaders, friends, and family gathered in downtown Macon to celebrate the dedication of Josh Rogers Way, honoring the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Josh Rogers. Rogers passed away tragically and unexpectedly in November 2024. In recognition of his service and instrumental role in downtown Macon’s successful revitalization, the Macon-Bibb County Commission unanimously approved naming the block of Third Street between Poplar Street and Cherry Street in his honor on November 18, 2025.
The dedication emphasized a shared vision for downtown that Rogers championed throughout his career. During the ceremony, local leaders reflected on Rogers’ commitment to building a downtown where Maconites of all backgrounds, generations, and zip codes could feel welcome, connected, and invested. Rogers believed downtown should reflect the best of Macon and be a place where all its citizens feel welcome and represented.
That belief is why this particular block was chosen. Identified in the Macon Action Plan as a future site for a transformative public space, Josh Rogers Way will soon become an intergenerational playspace designed to bring people together in the heart of the city. The planned playspace will serve as a free, accessible gathering place where children, families, seniors, and visitors can connect across generations.
“Having a downtown that brings people joy, more than just being a place for commerce, was always core to what Josh and I wanted for Macon,” said Alex Morrison, Director of Planning and Public Spaces for Macon-Bibb County and Executive Director of the Macon-Bibb Urban Development Authority. “This intergenerational playspace will be an accessible and free space for people of all ages, abilities, and economic strata to meet in our city center as they forge new friendships. It will exist as a love letter from Josh to future generations of Maconites who find who they are on the streets of downtown just as he did during his time at Mercer and beyond.”
Rogers believed deeply in “togetherness” as the foundation of strong communities, making the future playspace a fitting physical expression of his values and vision. As plans move forward, Josh Rogers Way will evolve into a world-class public space that invites connection, play, and shared moments for generations to come