Construction continues as Tom Lee Park hits funding and design milestones
- AutoZone, First Horizon Foundation, Baptist Memorial Health Care, Campbell Clinic and Regional One Health join the transformation at Tom Lee Park.
- Design team to host public presentation of latest images and design details on April 14 at 4.30PM CDT.
As the new northern entrance to Tom Lee Park takes shape at the Cutbank Bluff, Memphis River Parks Partnership celebrates major steps forward as funding and design milestones are hit, powered by significant donations from acclaimed local brands.
The $60M capital campaign is more than 80% complete with new funding commitments from leading Memphis-based companies including AutoZone ($1M), First Horizon Foundation ($1M), Baptist Memorial Health Care ($750K), Campbell Clinic ($250K) and Regional One Health ($250K). Corporate commitments join local and national philanthropies and individual private donors in the effort to build the best riverfront park in America here in Memphis. Together, these commitments demonstrate the power of public-private partnership as they match $30M of city, county and state government funding already committed for an overall total of more than $48M raised.
As construction continues on the Cutbank Bluff, final details for the groundplane of the park continue to be refined. Design development is now complete, and the design team is working to produce construction documents for the park west of Riverside Drive. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer.
Designers from Studio Gang and SCAPE will host a public presentation of the latest design — including new visuals and details on the park — on Wednesday, April 14 at 4:30PM CDT via Zoom. The team will show the design for the complete park including the recently announced strategies to slow traffic on Riverside Drive. There will be an opportunity for Q&A. Pre-registration is required and RSVP is available at http://bit.ly/TomLeePark0414.
“It’s exciting to know that we’re so close to achieving a goal that Memphians have dreamt of for nearly a hundred years,” said Tyree Daniels, board chair of Memphis River Parks Partnership. “The new Tom Lee Park will be one of the best parks in America and will create a signature place that Memphis — and Memphians — deserve. Tom Lee demonstrated the best in all of us as he pulled people drowning in the Mississippi River to safety in 1925. The park that bears his name will embody Lee’s spirit and will offer Memphians a chance to escape from all that they may be ‘drowning’ in — stress, work or the pressures of everyday life. Tom Lee Park is a space for all of Memphis to show their best selves.”
“I’m so impressed and humbled by all of those who have stepped up to support the park financially — even during a pandemic,” said Partnership Development Committee chair Bruce Hopkins. “The individuals, companies and philanthropies contributing to this project represent the civic leadership we need to move our city forward and claim the best riverfront in America! We’re thrilled with and thankful for the commitments to date.”
Opportunities to be recognized in the park are still available. Park features can be sponsored for pledges of $150,000 and above. Individuals can have their names inscribed in the park forever by becoming a Visionary donor for a commitment of just $1,000 (or more) that can be paid in monthly payments as low as $17/month.
A full list of donor opportunities is available from Nancy Harwood, advancement manager for the Partnership, at nharwood@memphisriverparks.org.
Visit TomLeePark.org for more information on the park, to see the full donor list and to learn more about contributing.
