City: Memphis
State/Province: Tennessee
Country: United States

Catherine Nagel, Executive Director, City Parks Alliance:
The story of the six-year transition of Confederate Park to Fourth Bluff Park is a remarkable one and left a profound impression on our group. The successful and innovative legal maneuver to remove the Jefferson Davis statue was of much interest to board members — especially those from other Southern cities — but the group also left impressed with the tact and intent with which the park has been reactivated by community.

The new River Garden offers a beautiful, thoughtfully-designed environment, but what was most captivating was the diversity of programming offered in the space. From dance to music to kayaking, these programs and the park design itself are inclusive, sending a strong message to the community that all are welcome.

By bringing people of all types together, the park is helping to break down barriers between strangers and build stronger community bonds. We look forward to sharing these examples of park activation with our members across the country. Its success also left us excited for the future of Tom Lee Park just a mile south.