A Riverfront Takes Root
Reimagining civic assets to reconnect the city
On a Friday evening in early November, as the sun began to set from the West over the Arkansas floodplains, the rushing Mississippi River catching its luster in the tide, the River Garden and River Line took root in Downtown Memphis.
Dozens docked their Explore Bike Share bikes at the new station at River Garden, riders having ridden in groups from the neighborhoods connected by the River Line trail from Greenbelt Park in Mud Island to Big River Crossing. The River Garden sits at the center of the new, 5-mile River Line trail which, for the first time, allows the riverfront to be physically connected by a contiguous walking and biking path.
Hundreds more walked down the bluff to arrive to a scene of fabric flag decorations, hand-painted by Shelby County school children the weekend prior, carrying messages of, “I Love Memphis” and sketches of the sun and river waves.
A backdrop of soul music intertwined with children’s laughter as they played on new hammock swings suspended from the elevated treehouse and nest structure.
Intimate gathering spaces, life-sized bird “nests” and firepits for pre-dinner marshmallow roasting attracted all ages and races to enjoy the space together. Three nests were designed, prototyped, and constructed by Memphis-area elementary, middle and high school-children alongside local architects, engineers and contractors, creating an early opportunity for young Memphians to make their mark on our riverfront.
That Friday evening on the river to celebrate the new park and new trail included remarks from Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, Carol Coletta, the president and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership and Barbara Hyde, chairman and CEO of the Hyde Family Foundation. Hyde asked every Memphian present to pause and take a 360-degree spin to take in our surroundings. From the River Garden’s freshly-planted landscape of native grasses, trees and wildflowers, we took in the new Mighty Lights on the Hernando de Soto Bridge, our actively developing downtown skyline and the rushing yet idyllic Mississippi river. As Memphians, we had experienced the river before, looked out at the view from a downtown building, jogged at sunset; but never in this way, taking a moment to experience our unique natural assets from the beauty of the new River Garden in the heart of the city was unmatched.
This powerful 15-second practice, coupled with the cognizant and captivated reactions of the participants, is exactly why we at the Hyde Family Foundation invest in the Memphis riverfront.
The transformation of our Memphis riverfront is just getting started. The River Garden and River Line, both opened on November 9, are an incredible first taste of what’s to come. Now, the riverfront is connected to the city and Memphis boasts a new jewel of a park in the heart of our downtown.
At Hyde Family Foundation, we believe that Memphis has incredible assets and tremendous potential. Our investments work to create a city full of vibrant spaces and communities that are equitable and economically vital, offer great quality-of-life, and attract and retain people. Such values align intrinsically with the goals of Reimagining the Civic Commons, an initiative in which we’re proud to have invested, and a movement that has directly yielded the River Garden and River Line.
Community is at the core of Memphis River Parks Partnerships’ planning — in fact, it’s the foundation for international design practices Studio Gang and SCAPE’s plans for Tom Lee Park, the centerpiece of Memphis’ riverfront. The new park will not only make a grand civic statement for the city but will create organic opportunities for connection with a balance of intimate and expansive spaces that welcome a gathering a small picnic, yoga class, or festival-style celebration.
The River Garden, though only open for a month now, has already become a fixture for Memphians and visitors alike. The garden is busy every day with many visitors stopping by to play in the treehouse, hang out by a firepit, check out the new plants and see what critters they have attracted or just read a book. Programming, like the weekly Firepit Fridays, bring Downtown workers, residents, families and tourists together to kick off the weekend and roast marshmallows at sunset. As the weather warms up, you’ll begin to see more and more different and unique programs in the garden.
As a city of momentum, Memphis must ensure that our greenways, bike lanes, parks, and public spaces — from the Riverfront to Shelby Farms Park — connect and benefit all Memphians. At the Hyde Family Foundation, we prioritize investing in systems that support the development and growth of thriving communities as well as the people that sustain them.
Memphis grew from the river — it exists today because of the river. We have always had the most majestic view of the most spectacular river in America. It’s time that our riverfront matched up to our river.
Ian Nunley is the Hyde Family Foundation’s Program Officer for Vibrant Spaces & Communities.
Reimagining the Civic Commons is a collaboration between The JPB Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and local partners like the Hyde Family Foundation.
