New “MEMPHIS” sign headlines enhancements to Mud Island Park for 2019 Summer Season and “New Century of Soul” Bicentennial Anniversary
Mud Island Park will launch the 2019 summer season May 2nd. The park will be open dawn-dusk, seven days a week, with free admission. New this season is a large-scale “MEMPHIS” sign designed by noted local artist Tylur French and Youngblood Studio.
A 50-foot long, 10-foot tall MEMPHIS sign on Mud Island’s south field will welcome visitors to Memphis this summer and remind Memphians that their city’s bicentennial celebration is underway.
The giant sign, designed by noted local artist Tylur French and Youngblood Studio, will anchor new additions to Mud Island Park during its 38th summer season launching Thursday, May 2. Also on the way are a prominent field of sunflowers, new swings and lights in the grove, a refreshed Mississippi River Museum and a full summer of free and inclusive concerts and programs.
The island will stay open seven days a week from dawn to dusk. Admission to the island is free. Admission to the Mississippi River Museum is $10 for adults and $8 for youth ages 5–11. Children four and younger are admitted free.
The “MEMPHIS” sign will be installed on the south field and, at 50 feet long and 10 feet high, will be visible from both downtown and the I-40 bridge. The installation is made possible by We Are Memphis, City of Memphis and the Downtown Memphis Commission in honor of the “New Century of Soul” Bicentennial anniversary of Memphis and Shelby County. Scheduled to be installed by May 22, the 200th anniversary of the founding of the City of Memphis, and just in time for Memphis in May’s May 25th “Celebrate Memphis” event, the sign is expected to become a popular photo spot for locals and visitors commemorating the city’s milestone.
“We’ve been proud to play a role in elevating the public art movement in Memphis for more than a decade,” said artist Tylur French. “I believe in demonstrating the power of art to shape public spaces and develop iconic brands for businesses and municipalities. I’m excited to collaborate with Memphis River Parks to increase public awareness and excitement for the innovative updates to our beloved riverfront park system.”
The southern tip of Mud Island will see a new field of sunflowers installed with walking paths, benches and framed views of the Mississippi. The field will be an oasis of quiet and calm in the city welcoming families to relax among the flowers.
Alongside these large-scale installations will be upgrades to the grove just north of the Gulf of Mexico with colorful swings, new lights and playful moments added to the area’s natural beauty. The grove will be activated with a new summer series of free monthly concerts in collaboration with Bertram Williams of Free Persons Music Group, with a schedule to be released soon.
Joining that series will be a second riverfront concert series, Soulin’ on the River, curated by Tonya Dyson, who leads Memphis Slim House and Neosoulville.
The Mississippi River Museum will re-open Thursday, May 2 for its first full season since the experience was refreshed midway through last season. Modernized improvements to the museum experience were detailed on our blog and in the Commercial Appeal. The museum will be open Thursday through Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. until the season concludes October 31.
The Partnership’s new grove concerts will join a robust program schedule that also includes an Independence Day celebration, the annual Duncan-Williams St. Jude Dragon Boat Races, Fall Fitness Festivals, Soulin’ on the River with Tonya Dyson of the Memphis Slim House and a new family-focused series in partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission.
“Memphians have so much nostalgia for Mud Island,” said Carol Coletta, president and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership. “Everyone seems to have at least one warm memory of their time on Mud Island. With these additions this summer, we hope Memphians will once again find new reasons to visit and to make great memories on the island.”
Mud Island Park’s second season under the management of Memphis River Parks Partnership will also see a continuation of tweaked policies begun last year: dogs are still welcome to the park and visitors can access the park on foot or by bike via the pedestrian bridge or north gate on the island. Parking is available at the Front Street Garage. More details on pricing and reservations can be found here.
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Memphis River Parks Partnership is a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to work with and for the people of Memphis to trigger the transformative power of our river. Learn more about the Partnership at memphisriverparks.org.
Bicentennial Anniversary: The City of Memphis will officially mark its 200th anniversary on May 22, 2019 and Shelby County on November 24, 2019. For more information on “A New Century of Soul,” please visit MEM200.com and join the conversation on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
