Latest news with #MemphisRiverParksPartnership
Business Journals
21-04-2025
- Business Journals
Memphis Flyway's visitor attraction, economic potential for Downtown Memphis
Memphis River Parks Partnership's Andrew Kiepe: "This gives people an excuse to stop, get out, and experience the Mississippi River." Andrew Kiepe has been with Memphis River Parks Partnership (MRPP) for three years as its director of development. He's worked on the fundraising side — including the $61 million for Tom Lee Park and $10.8 million for the Memphis Flyway. The Flyway, which is set to be unveiled early next year, is at the southern end of Tom Lee Park, where Ashburn-Coppock Park begins. "It's naturally grown the last 30-plus years to become this very ecologically rich location that hosts a wide variety of animals right here in Downtown Memphis at that exact spot," Kiepe said. One aim of the new Flyway is to make the Mississippi River accessible to all. To that end, it will feature an observation deck at the river — the only one of its kind on the Mississippi River. The Flyway's design is being headed by the Chicago-based firm Studio Gang. Studio Gang recently won an award for its design of Tom Lee Park. Kiepe said the 218 foot by 60 foot area is ever changing. Flowers may be in bloom or guests may spot a fox. Kiepe noted that 40% of all North American birds fly over that pathway every year. There is economic potential there, according to Kiepe. "This is my most favorite fun fact I've recently found — enthusiasts who are into bird watching or just looking for specific animals, they spend more annually than hunting and fishing combined," he said. MRPP has a nature curriculum that teaches about natural spaces and the Mississippi River. Last year, the program saw 7,500 students. expand Andrew Kiepe of the Memphis River Parks Partnership Memphis River Parks Partnership Included in the Flyway is a pollinator garden. Kiepe said the garden draws insects, such as monarch butterflies. "The monarchs are a very important piece to the pollination process, which provides us the food that's on our table," he said. The area features understory trees and plantings like milkweed and pawpaw trees. Kiepe said the Flyway will give those who drive through the area a reason to stop and stay a while. "This gives people an excuse to stop, get out, and experience the Mississippi River," he said, adding that a recent study had some 1.5 million travelers coming through. "We hope that it's not only an ecological benefit and educational benefit, but a tourist attractor, whether it's just stopping for an hour and seeing our city and showing how great of a Downtown we have. We want to give them a reason want to come back, or maybe they'll stay, have lunch, and decide to use this as an overnight stop." Sign up for the Business Journal's free morning and afternoon daily newsletters to receive the latest business news impacting the Memphis metro area. Download the free Memphis Business Journal app for breaking news alerts on your phone. Memphis-Area Tourist Attractions 2023 attendance Rank Prior Rank Rank / Prior Rank / URL 1 1 Beale Street Historic District 2 2 Southland Casino Hotel 3 3 Gold Strike Casino Resort View this list
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Riverside closed, Tom Lee Park closing for month of events
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Riverside Drive is closed this weekend, and Tom Lee Park is about to close for more than a month, Memphis River Parks Partnership says. The Riverside closure started Friday morning and will last through the weekend. Parking can be found in several garages at the top of the Bluff. The first riverfront event is the fourth annual Good Friday Basketball Tournament under the Sunset Canopy in Tom Lee Park. Saturday, the Riverfront Easter Festival happens at Mud Island Park from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Then, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Tom Lee Park, there is the first 'Sing It, Memphis' at the art installation, A Monument to Listening, led by Keri Lee. Beginning Monday, Tom Lee Park will be closed to the public in preparation for both the SmokeSlam and RiverBeat events. The park will be closed until May 23. The RiverBeat music festival is set for May 2-4, while the SmokeSlam barbecue festival will take place May 15-17. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
City leaders cautious about possible return of Mud Island concerts
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Flyers have been circulating on social media about concerts coming back to the Mud Island Amphitheater in April, but according to many city leaders, they are not sure if it will actually happen. The mayor of Memphis has not officially given the green light to bring concerts back to Mud Island. 'This event, as of right now, has not been approved by the mayor, we do have some concerns regarding the structural integrity of the Amphitheater, itself,' said Julius Muse, Deputy Chief of Operations of the City of Memphis. For two years, there have been several discussions and studies about how to bring Mud Island back to life. Mud Island stage could be grooving again in April with popup concerts Last month, Jerred Price with the Downtown Neighborhood Association announced a three-day pop-up concert in the spring. 'We are missing that element of that size show and that size venue downtown. We are losing those tax dollars, those tourism,' said Price. And while many agree, during Tuesday morning's city council meeting, city leaders say it's going to take a lot of work before they can safely host an event at the Amphitheater. 'You have to provide accessible parking around to the event. And if you have it inside the amphitheater, you have to have accessibility vertically and horizontally, and you have to have accessibility to the restrooms,' said City of Memphis Chief Operations Manager Antonio Adams. 'I'm not comfortable at this point having the discussion of planning something at this event and knowing that we're not ADA compliant in the location that they want to have it in,' said City Councilwoman Rhonda Logan. We walked around the entire facility of the Mud Island Amphitheater. These are the current conditions: Graffiti at checkpoints, broken elevators, rotted railings, and damaged bathrooms – just to name a few. 📡 for Memphis and the Mid-South. 📧 and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. 'We had thousands of people out there in 2018. Nothing about the venue has changed. So if we could have concerts, then surely we can have concerts now,' Price said. City leaders say the three-day pop-up concert idea is great, but a few details about the event may have to change. 'The concept is great, the location, right now we don't know about it,' said Adams. City leaders will continue the discussion in the next meeting about short-term plans with Memphis River Parks Partnership before the mid-April event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
