Questions from the Engagement Center
Since the Tom Lee Park Engagement Center opened to the public almost two weeks ago, hundreds of Memphians have visited to see what’s planned for our riverfront. We’ve heard a lot of “wow” and “awesome” — especially during virtual reality immersions — as well as a lot of good questions.
Check out the answers to some of our frequently asked questions below or stop by the engagement center yourself 4–7 PM on Wednesdays or 12–3 PM on Saturdays.
How is the design responsive to Memphis and to what Memphians want to see on the river?
The design has been built on what Memphians said they wanted or the successful programs and activities that take place in the park today. More than 4,000 Memphians from every ZIP code in Shelby County contributed to the Riverfront Concept. Every day, Partnership staff are in the park talking to visitors and seeing what works (and what doesn’t). Since last summer we’ve interviewed more than 300 park visitors in person — in the park. Of course, it’s a balance between supporting what works today, and anticipating what’s to come in the future. That’s why everything in the park is designed to be multi-function and easily adaptable should the program need to change.
How does the design accommodate Memphis in May?
Even before the design team put pen to paper on a new design, the team sat down with Memphis in May’s staff to understand the required specifications for both Beale Street Music Festival and World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. The design has been developed to specifications provided by Memphis in May. And those specifications were not limited to obvious questions like the number of attendees, the size of stages, or where BBQ team booths would locate. Together, the design team and festival representatives discussed load-in and load-out procedures, ingress and egress routes, appropriately-located utility hookups, concession, vendor and VIP tent locations, backstage parking and even sponsor activations.
The test fits produced by the design team demonstrate how the events can continue to operate comfortably within the new footprint. As designer of the festival, Memphis in May will work with their architecture consultants to produce their own test fits for the 2021 festival.
Are you really proposing three big swimming pools?
No! All of the landscape features in the park reflect forms that you’ll find in the Mississippi River — and are so named. The three great lawns in Tom Lee Park take their name from the wide, deep stretches of the Mississippi River known as pools. The pools in Tom Lee Park are sized to increase the square footage available for Beale Street Music Festival crowd sizes from about 235,000 to 252,000 square feet.
What’s a habitat tower?
The spectacular Habitat Tower is built out above the river at the southern edge of the park. Anticipated to immediately become a stunning new landmark for Memphis, the Habitat Tower provides a spectacular structure for birds to nest and rest as they navigate the Mississippi flyway and a memorable gathering space where park visitors can feel as if they’re hovering above the river. There’s nothing like it anywhere on the Mississippi, and it will become a popular spot for photos, weddings and more.
When can we look forward to enjoying the new Tom Lee Park?
Sooner than you may think! The Partnership continues to raise funds toward a $70M target. Assuming sufficient funds are raised, construction will begin in June this year and will be complete by the end of 2020.
How will you ensure safety in the park?
Keeping park guests safe is a priority. The Partnership works daily with Memphis Police and Downtown Memphis Commission’s Blue Suede Brigade and will be working with both organizations to develop our safety plan for the new park.
Improved lighting, the most proven and effective way to make places safe, will be deployed through the park, along with the latest camera technology (sans blue flashing lights).
Pedestrian safety is designed into park plans. Pathways will be lit, and the dedicated straight-line path on the eastern edge of the park will provide a safe area for motorized scooters and fast bikes away from pedestrians. And of course, the biggest move toward pedestrian safety will be to make the crossings on Riverside Drive between downtown and the park narrower.
Relocating the parking from large, hard-to-manage parking lots inside the park to easily accessible spots along Riverside Drive will separate moving vehicles from pedestrians, put visitors closer to their destination, and discourage loitering and cruising.
How will you maintain the new park?
Anyone familiar with the park today knows that we struggle to drain excess water from the park throughout the year. That’s because the ground underneath is “like concrete,” according to experts. Excess water creates mud with heavy use of the park (especially during Memphis in May) which then turns into lots of bare ground in the summer. Even after repair, the park has spots that remain puddles.
In the new Tom Lee Park, the grass turf will be replaced from the bottom up in order to toughen it up to the wear and tear of day-to-day activity and festivals. Stormwater capture methods will be used as water and landscape features throughout the park. Low maintenance, native plantings will keep costs manageable, while at the same time clean stormwater before it returns to the Mississippi River. The new landscape will provide much-needed shade and beauty.
More questions? Join us at the Engagement Center every Wednesday 4–7PM or Saturdays 12–3PM.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates at @memriverparks.
ABOUT THE MEMPHIS RIVER PARKS PARTNERSHIP. The Memphis River Parks Partnership is a 501(c)3 that works with and for the people of Memphis to trigger the transformative power of our river. For more information, visit https://www.memphisriverparks.org/.
