The Memphis City Council voted Tuesday to demolish an old building at the Mid-South Fairgrounds and design a green pathway as a grand entrance to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium from East Parkway.
The Public Green Space Project, as it is called, will cost about $10 million to design and build and will be completed in two stages. The first stage is scheduled to be finished by September, and the second stage a year later. It consists of 15 acres of “irrigated turf grass” suitable for tailgating on game days and general use on other days. A rendering of the project shows a fountain in the middle of it.
The council unanimously approved the project. The cost of the design is $606,210. Former City Council member Tom Marshall’s architectural firm will design the Green Space Project. Funds for the $4.75 million first-phase of construction would be redirected from two maintenance building projects, Liberty Bowl locker room improvements that are being put off, and $255,000 in federal funds. The council must still approve that expenditure.
The demolition of some of the former Mid-South Fair buildings will create more parking, bringing the total number of spots to 7,550, with an additional 1,800 spaces on the former Libertyland site available if needed, although that area has mature trees and is envisioned as a park and picnic area. Two old buildings will remain standing — the Pipkin and Creative Arts Building — for use during football games and for roller derby teams that currently use another building.
