Mayor Jim Strickland,

I guess by now your inbox is getting a bit full mayor@memphistn.gov. For some reason the proposed changes to Tom Lee Park, despite having some coverage seems to have been overlooked by the general public. Until now. The fact that MIM seemed surprised by the proposed changes shows that a lot of parties had a ‘failure to communicate’. The fact is TLP is by its very nature a ‘stage’, and one of the best in the nation – perhaps world. And I find Ms. Coletta’s description as a ‘moonscape without trees’ way off base. The ‘bridge to bridge’ sightlines are spectacular and rarely found in urban environments.

But Music fest and BBQ Fest will not be able to be replicated at other sites. Tiger Lane was fine for a year, but there is nothing like the banks of the Mississippi. Agricenter? Great for horses and rodeos – and that is not a knock. I love the agricultural feel of the place. Shelby farms? Good luck with that – can barely get in and out as is. There is NOTHING that can replicate a major festival on the banks of the Mississippi river.

Riverside drive down to two lanes? I am shocked this is even being considered. And the ancillary impact on the downtown scene will amount to millions of dollars of lost revenue. When BBQ fest was at Tiger Lane I socialized for a while then went home. I am sure a lot of others did likewise. The ‘stage’ of TLP sitting just below Front & Beale creates a unique atmosphere. The two major festivals would inevitably be much smaller held elsewhere and fall into ‘niche’ status losing the nationwide audience.

If I could reasonably expect all of the visitors the redesign is supposed to attract then I would have a different opinion. But I just don’t see it. Not even close and I don’t get how the proponents even come up with their numbers. Besides, with only two lanes how will all these visitors get there?? � For a major festival it is okay to park and then walk a bit. It’s a big event!! And a recent writer at the Daily Memphian made a very good point: people respond to events, not structures (see Mud island).

The economic impact of the two major festivals is too big to jeopardize. Folks visiting the redesigned park will basically be doing what they always did. Hanging out. Sitting on a bench. Throwing a Frisbee. Except the sight lines will be ruined. Nobody is going to pull off I-40 just to go ‘wow what a park’. We are jeopardizing an important revenue source for all downtown merchants. And it may only be two festivals one a year, but the impact on the general psyche of our citizens is huge. I have looked forward to MIM ever since I moved here. TLP is the ‘stage’.

I think this whole situation need to be reassessed before bulldozers show up. Way too much is at stake. And my current assessment is we will lose more than we gain – which is never a good deal. And besides, because of the sight lines a lot of us actually think the ‘moonscape without trees’ is really Beautiful!!

Douglas Vaughn
Chief Financial Officer
LIG Assets

Memphis of Memphis at City Hall
125 N. Main St. Room 700
Memphis, TN 38103
901.636.6000 
mayor@memphistn.gov