Grit and Grind: Your Guide to Hooping in Memphis

Grit and grind. It’s everywhere!

On towels, heard in sportscaster’s shows, and seen all around Memphis. The phrase ‘grit and grind,’ however was born out of an accidental moment of frustration in a Grizzlies game in 2011, but was rebranded and embraced it as Memphis’s own basketball style.

Although it was accidental, the saying permeates the very nature of culture and basketball in Memphis. Whether you are the next Ja Morant or just trying to stay in shape, below is our guide for hooping across the city, because after all, you got next!

Tom Lee Park Opening Day   Robert Jordan Finney-4.jpg
Robert Jordan Finney
Tom Lee Park

Please check with specific community centers for updates on hours and permissions.

*As of early 2024, for all community centers, Memphis Parks will be implementing a new system encouraging visitors to sign up for memberships (it’s free!) to track community engagement and safety.

Berclair

Gaisman Community Center
4223 Macon Rd Memphis, TN 38122
Phone: 901-636-0761
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Cherokee Heights

Cherokee Park
2999 Filmore Ave Cordova, TN 38114

Cooper-Young

Kroc Center
800 E Pkwy S, Memphis, TN 38104
Free for members, $5 for drop-ins

Cordova

Bert Ferguson Community Center
8505 Trinity Road Cordova, TN 38018
Phone: 901-636-0705
Free play for 18+ if MWF 11am-3pm
Free play for 18 and under is M-F 3-6pm

P7 Sports Academy
237 Woodland Lake Drive Cordova, TN 38018
Host tournaments or join a basketball team

Downtown

Tom Lee Park
Riverside Dr Memphis, TN 38103
Free play 6:00am – 8:00pm

East Memphis

Marion Hale Community Center & Willow Park
4791 Willow Rd Memphis, TN 38117
Phone: 901-636-0789
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

First Evangelical Church
735 Ridge Lake Blvd, Memphis, TN 38120
Phone: 901-682-8452
Opens in April after court restructuring

Nike EYBL 2023 Memphis Sports and Events Center.jpg
Memphis Sports & Events Center

Frayser

Ed Rice Community Center
2935 North Watkins Memphis, TN 38127
Phone: 901-636-0750
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Denver Park
Tulsa at Bigelow Memphis, TN 38127
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

North Frayser Community Center & Pickett Park
2555 St Elmo Ave Memphis, TN 38127
Phone: 901-636-0792
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Rodney Baber Park
2215 James Rd Memphis, TN 38127
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Hickory Hill

Hickory Hill Park & Community Center
3910 Ridgeway Rd Memphis, TN 38115
Phone: 901-636-0780
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Medical District

Morris Park
747 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN 38105
Summer hours: 6:00am- 6:00pm

Midtown

Glenview Park & Community Center
1141 South Barksdale Rd Memphis, TN 38114
Phone: 901-636-7080
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Memphis Sports & Event Center (Liberty Park)
995 Early Maxwell Blvd Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: 901-695-1209
Check the website for league information, free play, and camps!

North Memphis

Bickford Park and Community Center
232 Bickford Memphis, TN 38107
Phone: 901-636-4200
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 8am – 6pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Dave Wells Community Center
915 Chelsea Ave Memphis, TN 38107
Phone: 901-636-0717
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Douglass Community Center
1616 Ash St Memphis, TN 38108
Phone: 901-636-0778
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Hollywood Park & Community Center
1560 North Hollywood Memphis, TN 38108
Phone: 901-636-0784
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Katie Sexton Community Center & Klondike Park
1235 Brown Ave Memphis, TN 38107
Phone: 901-636-0750
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Lester Community Center & Howze Park
317 Tillman Memphis, TN 38112
Phone: 901-636-0788
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Gooch Park
1974 Hunter Ave Memphis, TN 38108
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Orange Mound

Charles W. Davis Park & Community Center
3371 Spottswood Ave Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: 901-636-0728
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Charjean Park
2601 Ketchum Rd Memphis, TN 38114
Phone: 901-636-4200
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Orange Mound Park
2430 Carnes Ave Memphis, TN 38114
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Lewis David Park
Pendleton St at Deadrick Ave Memphis, TN 38114
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

P7 Sports Academy  Julian Harper.jpg
Julian Harper
P7 Sports Academy

Parkway Village

McFarland Community Center
4955 Cottonwood Memphis, TN 38118
Phone: 901-636-0787
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Arthur Halle Stadium (Precinct Courts)
2602 Mt. Moriah Rd Memphis, TN 38115
Phone: 901-636-0787
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Raleigh

Cunningham Community Center & J.T Willingham Park
3773 Old Allen Rd Dr Memphis, TN 38128
Phone: 901-636-3037
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Raleigh Community Center & Harry Pierotti Park
3778 Powers Rd Memphis, TN 38128
Phone: 901-767-2889
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 10am – 7pm, Saturday 7-3pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Carver Heights Park
3371 Margaretta Rd Memphis, TN 38128
Phone: 901-767-2889
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Westside Park
3347 Dawn Dr Memphis, TN 38127
Phone: 901-767-2889
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

South Memphis

Bethel Labelle Community Center
2698 LaRose Memphis, TN 38114
Phone: 901-302-7354
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Gaston Park & Community Center
1046 South 3rd Street Memphis, TN 38106
Phone: 901-636-0703
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Pine Hill Park Community Center
1005 Alice Ave Memphis, TN 38106
Phone: 901-636-0793
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 6:00pm

Riverview Community Center (Closed currently, but will reopen soon)
1891 Kansas St Memphis, TN 38109
Phone: 901-302-0703
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 10am – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Trigg West Park
1348 Rayburn St Memphis, TN 38106
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Southside Park
612 South Parkway Memphis, TN 38106
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Minnie Wagner Park
2570 Filmore Ave Memphis, TN 38114
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

L.E. Brown Park
617 South Orleans Memphis, TN 38126
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Belz Park
1970 Florida St, Memphis, TN 38109
Phone: 901-302-0703
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Booth Park
1531 Texas St, Memphis, TN 38106
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Chandler Park
979 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN 38106
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Jesse Turner Park and Bellevue Tennis Center
1310 S Bellevue, Memphis, TN 38106
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 10am – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm
For tennis center and hours, call Bellevue

Alcy-Samuels Park
2019 Ball Rd Memphis, TN 38114
Phone: 901-302-7354
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Alcy-Warren Park
2495 Warren Street Memphis, TN 38106
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Uptown

Booker T. Washington Park
1072 North Second St Memphis, TN 38107
Phone: 901-767-2889
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

New Chicago Park
Breedlove St at St. Charles Ave Memphis, TN 38107
Phone: 901-767-2889
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Boxtown Park
3448 Boxtown Rd Memphis, TN 38109
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Lucille Price Park
North Claybrook St at Capital Ave Memphis, TN 38107
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Dave Wells Community Center
915 Chelsea Ave Memphis, TN 38107
Phone: 901-636-0717
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Westwood

Westwood Park and Charles E Powell Community Center
810 Western Park Dr Memphis, TN 38109
Phone: 901-636-0775
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

O.L Cash Park
Ford Rd & Deerskin Dr, Memphis, TN 38109
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Whitehaven

Whitehaven Community Center & Park
4318 Graceland Memphis, TN 38116
Phone: 901-767-2889
Free play available
Community center hours: M-F 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 9-5pm
Summer hours: 6:00am- 8:00pm

Memphis Sports and Events Center at Liberty Park  DCA.jpg
DCA
Memphis Sports and Events Center

About the Author

Hi, I’m Ashanti! I am a freelance writer, travel enthusiast, foodie, etc! My career journey has taken me from the realms of healthcare to tech, to marketing, to eventually the creation of my own food blog on Instagram. My path may seem like a mere abbreviation with "etc.", but the impact of each twist and turn has shaped the person I am today.

As you may have noticed, I have various interests so you can find me around town either playing tennis, working out, trying a new coffeeshop or bar, or hanging with friends at Railgarten!

 

Why do you love Memphis?

I resonate with Memphis in a lot of ways that it is complex and doesn’t conform to fitting into any particular box. It’s loud, it’s gritty, and it possesses an unmistakable heart and soul. In its complexity our city holds pain, and yet, it’s the very birthplace of blues and rock’n’roll.  The longer I've called Memphis home, the more I've uncovered its hidden treasures – whether in the form of unique dining spots, unexpected opportunities, or connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Through the art of storytelling, my goal is to peel back the layers and celebrate the multifaceted beauty of Memphis and its phenomenal communities.

 

Build your perfect Memphis meal: One thing I think the French do really well at, is multiple courses so I’m going French style. Buckle up as we’ll be going around town!

Aperif and Hor D’oeuvres: Coastal Fish Company – Glass of wine and oysters from Coastal Fish Co

Main Course: Suga Shack – Catfish, macaroni, and yams with a live jazz band (the BEST)

Dessert: Houston Levee Creamery – I’ll end the night having 1 (okay 2), affogatos!

 

What's your Memphis hot take: We’re not necessarily known on the top foodie list for anything other than the barbecue, but the real hidden gem is the wings and other fusions of food!!! We have amazing wings, great Vietnamese, Thai, Caribbean food, and more dessert shops you can think of. Memphis isn’t a “in your face” city with various food restaurants. We’re a “get to know you slowly” kinda city!

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