Facebook – Memphis River Parks Partnership
A temporary recreational pop-up space with basketball courts and lawn games is set to open Friday, June 15th in Tom Lee Park.
The Memphis River Parks Partnership (MRPP) and the Memphis Grizzlies are partnering to activate RiverPlay for a second season.
Last year, the pop-up space was installed on a portion of Riverside Drive near the Mississippi River Park. This year, RiverPlay will be in the Beale Street Landing parking lot in Tom Lee Park.
“We’re pleased to be working alongside the Memphis Grizzlies to bring RiverPlay back to Memphis River Parks,” Carol Coletta, president and CEO of MRPP, said. “The partnership works to deliver a catalytic, connected, and fun riverfront for all Memphians, and RiverPlay will help us do that. We’re excited to host it and look forward to seeing new faces and new activity in the park this summer.”
The space will have basketball courts, playing fields, lawn games, and a shack to rent sports equipment for free.
RiverPlay will be open every Wednesday through Sunday from 3 to 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 5th. On three Fridays during the summer, June 29th, July 20th, and Aug. 3rd, hours will extend to 9 p.m. for “Sunset Skate” nights. The pop-up’s grand opening celebration is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m.
In addition to the space on the river, the Grizzlies will activate Chandler Park in South Memphis, by opening a GrizzFit Gear Shack, that will offer free athletic gear rentals. There will also be a free summer camp at the park every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday through the end of July. At the camp, youth will learn the fundamentals of traditional and non-traditional sports and fitness activities.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, MRPP board members discussed a tentative plan to bring more trees and amenities to Tom Lee Park. The board also talked about making some of the infrastructure for the Memphis In May International Festival, like utility hardware permanent.
Representatives with Studio Gang, the Chicago design firm working with the city on redoing the riverfront, said it could take a little over two years to complete the makeover of the park from start to finish.
