Memphis River Parks Partnership
Working with and for the people of Memphis to trigger the transformative power of our river.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We are working to reinvigorate the riverfront.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Tom Lee Poetry Contest
Annual contest for High-school students from Shelby County to create a poem to honor Tom Lee. Participants are judged by a renowned poet with an official awards ceremony at Beale Street Landing. Winners are featured in our newsletter and by local media outlets.
Kayaking in the Harbor
Kayak rentals from the historic cobblestone landing to give Memphians and visitors a new way to get out on the water and experience the Memphis riverfront. Kayak rentals are made possible by Kayak Memphis and happen the last Thursday of the month from May-August.
River Quest Journey
This is a go-at-your-own pace journey. You can pick up a River Quest passport at one of our parks. The passport includes nine self-guided, family friendly challenges, designed to encourage participants to explore the Mississippi River ecosystem. While the quest is self-guided, there are regular bonus activities and events including Earth and Arbor Day tree planting, pollinator planting days, and event volunteer opportunities.
Memphis Harbor Sampling
A once a month interactive educational opportunity to experience the Mississippi River like never-before. Those in attendance will learn about the importance of protecting the local water table. After learning about the water table participants will be able to test the Mississippi River’s water. Testing will educate on the overall pollution and health levels.
Sunset Skate Night
This is a diverse, safe and fun event for Memphians of all ages to come to the River Park and roller skate together with live spins from DJ, delicious food trucks, and an evening they won't forget on the river.
Our Yoga Downtown
A free weekly yoga series occurring every Tuesday at Memphis River Park from 6-7 pm. Bring your own yoga mat, water, and sunscreen. All yoga sessions are open to anyone and everyone!
Fitness Under the Stars
Come test your strength and endurance. A once-a-week fitness series during the month of September. Free to all participants. Workouts focused on teaching the importance of good health.
Summer Nature Walks
Monthly nature walks lead by Park Rangers. The walks will be a guided exploration of the riverfront environment. Rangers will teach participants ways to identify a multitude of Flora and Fauna.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Memphis River Parks Partnership works with and for the people of Memphis to trigger the transformative power of our river. The work is guided by the Memphis Riverfront Concept which lays out a series of elegant and connected investments that, together, lead to outsize impact. Investments in the riverfront will contribute to economic growth, support the attraction and retention of talent, improve health outcomes, connect communities, restore environmental conditions, and combat the dangerous trend of residential and economic segregation by creating spaces that are inclusive and welcoming to all and that encourage social interactions with others. The Partnership is advancing four connected projects: - River Line: The River Line trail connects Wolf River Greenway in the North to Big River Crossing in the South. Invitations to adjacent neighborhoods to “come to the river” are placed strategically along the route with additional investment in connections with downtown-adjacent neighborhoods of Uptown and South Memphis. The trail will open November 9, 2018. An on-street bike connection to MLK Park will open in Spring 2019. - Mississippi River Park: Anchoring the Fourth Bluff district just south of the Tennessee Welcome Center, Mississippi River Park is being transformed into a vibrant space for connection and play. A renovation of the park will restore natural conditions and add a playful climbing structure, a dining pavilion and native flora and fauna. The park will open November 9, 2018. - Civic Terrace and Cobblestone Landing: Remediation of the cobblestone landing will improve its appearance and ensure its survival as a cornerstone of the riverfront and the only remaining authentic, usable cobblestone landing in the country. The cobblestones will be lifted and reset and utilities will be moved underground. Above the landing, a reconfigured civic terrace will extend the riverfront to Wagner Pl. and better connect the riverfront to a new Brooks Museum and the downtown core. - Tom Lee Park: A new Tom Lee Park will add trees, shade, hardscapes, topography and recreational and play facilities. The park will better host and facilitate Memphis in May while also providing a more engaging experience year-round. The new park will bring Memphians closer to the river, improve the park experience for festival attendees and everyday visitors and make set-up and break-down of Memphis in May’s major festivals easier. Importantly, a reconfigured Riverside Drive will increase access and safety to the park.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Partnership is focusing on three concurrent strategies to advance the concept: · Build a strong organizational foundation: o Optimize staff roles and responsibilities. o Upgrade technology capacity. o Streamline processes and tasks. · Increase community ownership and support: o Increase documentation and storytelling. o Produce successful programs and activations in the parks. o Welcome more volunteers to the riverfront. · Advance the future: o Build development capacity. o Advance $75M capital campaign. o Execute riverfront concept.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The organization has experience managing five miles of riverfront since 2000. We have an engaged and experienced board in all facets of the work and the new President has built and rebuilt a number of nonprofits, redirected a $65m grant portfolio in 26 cities to a new, much tighter strategic vision that continues to guide the work three years on and funded and advised on projects of similar scale. The Partnership is a collaboration between residents, the community, the city and county administration, business and nonprofit organizations. Since launching in April 2018 the Partnership is on track to host more than 800 volunteers on the riverfront this calendar year. In June, the City of Memphis executed a 13-year (with an option for a 10 year renewal) management agreement giving the organization the stability and security it needs to advance the riverfront concept to completion. Partnership President and CEO Carol Coletta has been a resident of downtown Memphis for more than 40 years and has funded and managed significant urban projects in cities across the country in previous roles at the Knight Foundation, ArtPlace and the Mayors Institute on City Design. Coletta leads a renewed and diverse staff including George Abbott, former national program director for the Knight Foundation, Renee Wills, former CFO at Oak Hall and Jean Soucy, former director of recycling at the City of Memphis. The partnership is contracting with internationally recognized architecture firm Studio Gang to produce final design schematics. Studio Gang is founded and led by MacArthur Genius Award winner Jeanne Gang and has managed and led significant projects in cities around the world. The Memphis Riverfront Concept, produced by Studio Gang, has been nominated for an Architizer award.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have opened River Garden and the River Line.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Memphis River Parks Partnership
Board of directorsas of 11/18/2022
Tyree Daniels
Duncan Williams Inc.
Ray Pohlman
Government Relations Director and Vice President - AutoZone, Inc.
Robert Clark
Director of the Office of Government Affairs - St. Jude Research Hospital
Tyree Daniels
Managing Director - Duncan Williams, Inc.
Gregory Duckett
Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer - Baptist Memorial Hospital Medical Center
Laura Morris
Park & Public Realm Strategist
Robert Craddock
Managing Partner - Memphis office of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
Sam Cantor
Sam Cantor & Company
Teresa Sloyan
Executive Director - Hyde Family Foundations
Alan Crone
Special Counsel to the Mayor - City of Memphis
Doug McGowen
Chief Operating Officer - City of Memphis
Billy Orgel
Tower Ventures - President
Calvin Anderson
Retired SVP of BlueCross BlueShield of TN
Kristen C. Wright
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Customer Satisfaction - AutoZone, Inc.
Tammy LoCascio
Senior Executive Vice President Chief Human Resources Officer-First Horizon
Dallas Geer
Chief Financial Officer-The Poplar Foundation
J.W. Gibson II
Chairman and CEO-Gibson Companies
Liz Gilliland
Bruce Hopkins
Retired
Laura Morris
Park and Public Realm Strategist
Michalyn Easter-Thomas
Memphis City Council
Amity Schuyler
Van D. Turner Jr.
Kevin Woods
Memphis Market President- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
Gary K. Wunderlich Jr.
Co-Found and Managing Partner Live Oak Merchant Partners
Jason Wexler
President- Memphis Grizzlies
Shanea McKinney
Kim Jordan
Kera Wright
Chief Financial Officer- ALSAC/St. Jude
Eric Brown
VP & General Manager- Valero Refinery
Emily Greer
Retired Chief Administrative Officer- ALSAC/St. Jude
Michelle McKissack
Board Chair- Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Kontji Anthony
Founder and CEO of Youdle
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
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Gender identity
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Transgender Identity
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
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