After a five-year rollout plan that highlighted a well-documented demolition and a $61 million renovation, Memphis’ signature public park made its return.

Amongst a sea of food, drinks, singing and dancing, Riverside Drive was host to the “Day One Celebration” of the Tom Lee Park reopening Saturday morning, Sept. 2. 

The festivities began at 11 a.m. as people gathered at the top of Carlisle Cutbank Bluff to join a parade down the bluff.

Redesigned Tom Lee Park ready for debut

The Tom Lee Park Second Line had a collection of drummers, saxophonists and trombonists leading the charge as tunes like “Hey Pocky A-Way” and “When the Saints Go Marching In” highlighted the festivities. 

The nearly hourlong parade paved the way for the ribbon-cutting at AutoZone Plaza. 

Memphis River Parks Partnership Chair Tyree Daniels was one of the many community, city and state leaders speaking at the event. 

“This day has been a long time coming,” Daniels said to a crowd of onlookers. “It has been a culmination of work by so many brilliant people.” 

Daniels furthered his excitement by giving a shoutout to one specific sponsor that was a park supporter from the beginning.

“Let me thank (the Tennessee Valley Authority) and the Hyde Family Foundation,” Daniels said. “They were our sponsors from day one. Let’s salute them for not only their bravery, their vision, their ability to believe in this organization and this park, but also their belief in Memphis.” 

Tom Lee Park’s newly renovated 31-acre riverfront park lies alongside the Mississippi River in Downtown Memphis. The park transformation includes small hills, forest paths, a cafe porch, a new entry plaza, a covered recreation space and a canopy walk. 

Studio Gang served as the renovation planner and architect while Scape operated as the park landscaper and park designer. 

“We’ve created a place for park life that could only be in Memphis, one that will delight people of all ages by the variety of spaces and activities on offer while contributing to the resiliency of the river corridor,” says Carol Coletta, President and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership, in the Tom Lee Park press release.

Gospel music from the Tennessee Mass Choir soon commenced after the ribbon-cutting with a variety of songs, such as “Bread of Heaven.” Their musical ensemble paved the way for the mass prayer to give the park its blessing as the new pillar of the Memphis community.

Descendants of Tom Lee returned to the park and led the blessing as the cloudy skies slowly parted overhead.

From 1 to 4 p.m., people participated in free programs and activities at the celebration. Afternoon activities on the docket included pickup basketball, double dutch, a volleyball tournament, hip-hop yoga, Citizens Science demos, park tours, story time and a circus-skills workshop. 

Latoysha Mason, a Memphis native, was one of several attendees partaking in the park activities and nature around her. As she sat at a new park table with her young daughter, she expressed her gratitude for it all.

“I just wanted to see the new activities and the new park so my daughter could play, enjoy the music and just the good energy and the Downtown scenery,” Mason said. 

Mason thought Tom Lee Park’s reopening was a good thing for the Memphis community.

“It’s bringing more people into the city and Downtown — families and more family events, things like that,” Mason said.

There is one personal benefit that Latoysha Mason will like about the park that will make her job as a parent just a little bit easier.

“Definitely the playground,” Mason said with a smile.