Memphis Riverfront and Mud Island

[Memphisborn]

2 hours ago, Memphis4ever said:

Im glad everyone is hopeful for any kind of themepark or rides but the leaders in Memphis for whatever reason do not believe this form of industry will work here.  Let alone downtown.  

True. They are not interested in them park @ MI  Ferris wheel may happen but no theme park. Fresh water institute and Aquarium the most likely outcome and a renovated Amphitheater 

[MDC26]

7 minutes ago, Memphisborn said:

True. They are not interested in them park @ MI  Ferris wheel may happen but no theme park. Fresh water institute and Aquarium the most likely outcome and a renovated Amphitheater 

It's just a lot of money and Amphitheater and Aquarium would be higher priorities.  The city isn't going to build a theme park.  It would have to be a third party.  The city would have to approve it though.  

[Memphisborn]

29 minutes ago, MDC26 said:

It's just a lot of money and Amphitheater and Aquarium would be higher priorities.  The city isn't going to build a theme park.  It would have to be a third party.  The city would have to approve it though.  

Yes the council would have to vote it in. That’s just not what they see as highest and best use for MI the Aquarium/ Freshwater institute has legs already and they are  currently working behind the scenes to make that a reality. MOSH will be taking over the museum as soon as more infrastructure work is done, windows/ ceilings/ ac/ heat etc. It’s going to be a 2-3 year process with the fix up work amphitheater and monorail included. They may add Monorail to MATA budget just what’s being looked into right now. 

[Wayward Memphian]

1 hour ago, MDC26 said:

It's just a lot of money and Amphitheater and Aquarium would be higher priorities.  The city isn't going to build a theme park.  It would have to be a third party.  The city would have to approve it though.  

The city should contact the folks at Zamperla rides. They manage Coney Island for NYC. There are others. 

Anyhoo.. the featured attraction for a Christmas Market would be something like this positioned in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico segment of the river walk

 

Here is some ride concept art released by a park in the Netherlands today. Another illustration of making the most of a small footprint the coaster is designed around another ride  the other is a kiddie ride with nice theming

[The Guardian of Memphis]

7 hours ago, Memphis4ever said:

Im glad everyone is hopeful for any kind of themepark or rides but the leaders in Memphis for whatever reason do not believe this form of industry will work here.  Let alone downtown.  

I wonder why they don’t want it. Maybe they are aware of what happened with Peabody Place. Essentially it was like a theme park indoors. I stress the word “essentially”.  The unruly crowd made peabody place unruly. They did X-Site like that on American Way too. If not a theme park, a water park is the next best option. 

6 hours ago, Memphisborn said:

Yes the council would have to vote it in. That’s just not what they see as highest and best use for MI the Aquarium/ Freshwater institute has legs already and they are  currently working behind the scenes to make that a reality. MOSH will be taking over the museum as soon as more infrastructure work is done, windows/ ceilings/ ac/ heat etc. It’s going to be a 2-3 year process with the fix up work amphitheater and monorail included. They may add Monorail to MATA budget just what’s being looked into right now. 

Awesome! I hope it gets done. So they’re going the educational route instead of entertainment. The more education the better. The more children understand the world they live in and that they can have a cultural experience in their own city can only do wonders for the young mid southerners of the world. There’s quite a bit of entertainment already on these phones that they have. 

[knightrider162]

An under the radar update came from a news report yesterday. It looks like an last minute public meeting was held to discuss the cruise dock expansion and this involved incorporating Greenbelt park for cruises. It also included a sketch for a ferris wheel to be located at the 'Lone Star" site near Bass Pro and floating restaurants at Cobblestone Landing. I also included the RFP PDF that has some concept renderings and plans.

 

https://wreg.com/news/local/38m-cruise-ship-dock-expansion-planned-for-memphis/

RFP-71744-CMAR-for-Harbor-Docks-Project.pdf

[The Guardian of Memphis]

4 hours ago, knightrider162 said:

An under the radar update came from a news report yesterday. It looks like an last minute public meeting was held to discuss the cruise dock expansion and this involved incorporating Greenbelt park for cruises. It also included a sketch for a ferris wheel to be located at the 'Lone Star" site near Bass Pro and floating restaurants at Cobblestone Landing. I also included the RFP PDF that has some concept renderings and plans.

 

https://wreg.com/news/local/38m-cruise-ship-dock-expansion-planned-for-memphis/

RFP-71744-CMAR-for-Harbor-Docks-Project.pdf 8.43 MB · 6 downloads

The attachment/link won’t work. Ferris wheel is good. Floating restaurants…ok…why can’t there be one or two next to the welcome center? With all this new expansion, we need more hotels. Also, there was supposed to be an update on Mud Island around Labor Day. 

[Memphisborn]

54 minutes ago, The Guardian of Memphis said:

The attachment/link won’t work. Ferris wheel is good. Floating restaurants…ok…why can’t there be one or two next to the welcome center? With all this new expansion, we need more hotels. Also, there was supposed to be an update on Mud Island around Labor Day. 

Where is that update on MI??? Im hoping that the freshwater institute and Aquarium happens. 

[The Guardian of Memphis]

On 10/26/2022 at 8:49 AM, knightrider162 said:

An under the radar update came from a news report yesterday. It looks like an last minute public meeting was held to discuss the cruise dock expansion and this involved incorporating Greenbelt park for cruises. It also included a sketch for a ferris wheel to be located at the 'Lone Star" site near Bass Pro and floating restaurants at Cobblestone Landing. I also included the RFP PDF that has some concept renderings and plans.

 

https://wreg.com/news/local/38m-cruise-ship-dock-expansion-planned-for-memphis/

RFP-71744-CMAR-for-Harbor-Docks-Project.pdf 8.43 MB · 11 downloads

PDF link works. Thanks!

[Memphis4ever]

The covered pavilion at Tom Lee Park. 

 

[MDC26]

14 hours ago, Memphis4ever said:

The covered pavilion at Tom Lee Park. 

 

Is it going to be permanently held up by containers, or are they just temporary?

Speaking of containers, I was in Phoenix, and came across a cool apartment building that is the tallest shipping container building in North America.

[Memphis4ever]

7 hours ago, MDC26 said:

No the containers are there to temporarily support the structure while the angled posts are installed.

 

Is it going to be permanently held up by containers, or are they just temporary?

Speaking of containers, I was in Phoenix, and came across a cool apartment building that is the tallest shipping container building in North America.

 

[Memphis4ever]

Here are some updated construction photos. 

[Memphis4ever]

Had a tour on Friday and this park is amazing.  Wine bar, coffee, food, restrooms, plazas and tons of seating and spectacular views this park is the greatest park in the state. 

Misting fountains and LED lights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MDC26]

On 4/8/2023 at 11:45 PM, Memphis4ever said:

Had a tour on Friday and this park is amazing.  Wine bar, coffee, food, restrooms, plazas and tons of seating and spectacular views this park is the greatest park in the state. 

Misting fountains and LED lights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It does look amazing.  It's a little bittersweet though, knowing Memphis in May will never be the same again, as there's no way the park will be able to hold everything like it did before.  I do get it.  Make the park better, so it can be fully utilized all year, instead of just those two weekends in May.  I do wish they'd be able to use other space along the river front such as cobblestone landing or Mud Island Amphitheater for BBQ Fest and Beale St Music Fest.  

[Memphis4ever]

23 minutes ago, MDC26 said:

It does look amazing.  It's a little bittersweet though, knowing Memphis in May will never be the same again, as there's no way the park will be able to hold everything like it did before.  I do get it.  Make the park better, so it can be fully utilized all year, instead of just those two weekends in May.  I do wish they'd be able to use other space along the river front such as cobblestone landing or Mud Island Amphitheater for BBQ Fest and Beale St Music Fest.  

They actually have been getting more request from other festivals.

[MDC26]

4 minutes ago, Memphis4ever said:

They actually have been getting more request from other festivals.

That's good news.  Do you know which specific ones?

[DowntownUrbanite]

12 hours ago, Memphis4ever said:

They actually have been getting more request from other festivals.

I sure hope more revenue generating events are on their way to make up for the astronomical losses already experienced by Memphis in May and its related spin off to Downtown business. 

[Wayward Memphian]

Anyone going address the "damage" bill handed to Memphis in May l, particularly to the BBQ fest? 

They seem to be trying to kill off Memphis in May at Tom Lee. Why would any other festival want to come if they are going to get a bill like that.

 

Memphis should talking about adding a second weekend to the music fest and a land bridge  from the Landing to Mud Island to expand the BBQ Competition but not Memphis.......? 

[Memphisborn]

2 hours ago, Wayward Memphian said:

Anyone going address the "damage" bill handed to Memphis in May l, particularly to the BBQ fest? 

They seem to be trying to kill off Memphis in May at Tom Lee. Why would any other festival want to come if they are going to get a bill like that.

 

Memphis should talking about adding a second weekend to the music fest and a land bridge  from the Landing to Mud Island to expand the BBQ Competition but not Memphis.......? 

Absolutely agree! The land bridge is the key and moving The BBQ contest and a small lineup of concerts to a renovated and updated amphitheater is the way to go. There is more land mass on the southern tip of the island than most people realize the BBQ contest could certainly be held there 

[JTM1]

10 hours ago, Wayward Memphian said:

Anyone going address the "damage" bill handed to Memphis in May l, particularly to the BBQ fest? 

They seem to be trying to kill off Memphis in May at Tom Lee. Why would any other festival want to come if they are going to get a bill like that.

 

Memphis should talking about adding a second weekend to the music fest and a land bridge  from the Landing to Mud Island to expand the BBQ Competition but not Memphis.......? 

Taylor Berger did an excellent job addressing MIM.  Honestly, fresh and visionary minds need to replace MIM leadership, because they're stuck in the past. Nostalgia and a lack of vision has kept the festival stagnate when it could be so much more.  They need to find a way to bring back the Wonder Series and incorporate into the Memphis and May festival. BBQ-fest is being cheated, because they have been cutting teams, instead of finding a way to accommodate those that are interested in competing.  The music-fest need to be reimagined. 

https://dailymemphian.com/section/opinion/article/37781/memphis-opinion-time-for-beale-street-music-festival-to-evolve

[MDC26]

12 hours ago, Wayward Memphian said:

Anyone going address the "damage" bill handed to Memphis in May l, particularly to the BBQ fest? 

They seem to be trying to kill off Memphis in May at Tom Lee. Why would any other festival want to come if they are going to get a bill like that.

 

Memphis should talking about adding a second weekend to the music fest and a land bridge  from the Landing to Mud Island to expand the BBQ Competition but not Memphis.......? 

Music fest didn’t do much damage. BBQ fest did. They dumped grease down drains, stained sidewalks with hot charcoal, and many other things. I knew from the get go that the reimagined Tom Lee Park would no longer be able to do MIM like it should be done.

You can either have a world class riverfront park that can be used by anyone throughout the year, or have a barren grassland that is a great place for two world class festivals, for two weekends out of the year.  And whichever one you prefer, that’s fine, I won’t argue against you. But the former was chosen, so alternative options need to be explored. 

[Wayward Memphian]

One of the reasons I've implored for a LB replacement or at least a soccer stadium at the the old CA property was to incorporate the Music Fest with it.  West Stage at  Mud Island Amp or the southern tip(I remember the Horde Tour being there)  and East Stage at new stadium.  Have simultaneous headliners from different genres at close, control the crowd by offering a ticket for various closing stages. 

 

But unless Memphis gets control of what is happening in front of the Hampton Inn, this is all mute as the reputation of Memphis as a lawless crime cess pool grows outside if it's borders. Memohis needs to reinvent it's streets with major traffic calming methods to get rid the racing and donut fests. 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Wayward Memphian

[JTM1]

42 minutes ago, Wayward Memphian said:

One of the reasons I've implored for a LB replacement or at least a soccer stadium at the the old CA property was to incorporate the Music Fest with it.  West Stage at  Mud Island Amp or the southern tip(I remember the Horde Tour being there)  and East Stage at new stadium.  Have simultaneous headliners from different genres at close, control the crowd by offering a ticket for various closing stages. 

 

But unless Memphis gets control of what is happening in front of the Hampton Inn, this is all mute as the reputation of Memphis as a lawless crime cess pool grows outside if it's borders. Memohis needs to reinvent it's streets with major traffic calming methods to get rid the racing and donut fests. 

The mayoral candidates that I have heard, answer questions about the city moving forward, appeared to be more about replacing the Liberty Bowl, not renovating it, because Memphis has a need for more convention space. 

Help me understand something, there was a shooting in a Nashville library last week, and there is all types of crime in downtown Nashville, why is it that Memphis is seen a lawless place, but Nashville isn't?  

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/from-cleanliness-to-crowds-nashville-appoints-director-of-nightlife-to-tackle-downtown-issues

[James Owen]

1 hour ago, JTM1 said:

The mayoral candidates that I have heard, answer questions about the city moving forward, appeared to be more about replacing the Liberty Bowl, not renovating it, because Memphis has a need for more convention space. 

Help me understand something, there was a shooting in a Nashville library last week, and there is all types of crime in downtown Nashville, why is it that Memphis is seen a lawless place, but Nashville isn't?  

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/from-cleanliness-to-crowds-nashville-appoints-director-of-nightlife-to-tackle-downtown-issues

It's the media (TV, newspapers, etc.) that shapes the narrative for the most part, coupled with a general lack of accountability for leadership in the city.