Our 7 Favorite Spots in the New Tom Lee Park

There were very few places to sit and appreciate the view of the Mississippi and catch or shoot a breeze. The new design was very intentional about providing many, many places for you to kick back and relax. There is ample seating in every space we’ll mention in this blog. Be sure to take a seat at the First Horizon River Lounge along the water.

There is also a hammock grove where hammocks will be set up for you to relax away. There's one near the fitness area and playground too.

In this playground, creatures of the Mississippi River come alive. Cute creatures, we promise like two massive otters, a salamander, sturgeon, and more. Kids of all ages are going to love this space that allows them to climb, slide, and zip-line. This is one of the best playgrounds we’ve seen.

For those looking to work up a sweat, hit the fitness zone sponsored by the Campbell Clinic. There are various fitness stations and obstacles including some that give an American Ninja Warrior vibe.

I think it's really special how much more river hero Tom Lee is honored. The stunning bronze statue featuring Tom Lee at one of his rescues remains a centerpiece of the park in its original location.

There is also "A Monument to Listening" -- a new sculpture by renowned artist Theaster Gates. This space challenges park visitors to reckon with their own humanity in context of Tom Lee's legacy and is supported by the Mellon Foundation's Monuments Project.

There are 32 seating sculptures in this space and along the river near the monument to represent each life Tom Lee, a Black man in 1925, saved when he acted quickly and with great bravery pulled them from the waters and swift river currents after a steamer had overturned. Tom Lee did so without knowing how to swim.

You can also see a view of the Tom Lee Monument in Heroes Plaza, a gift of Baptist Healthcare, from A Monument to Listening.

Something that has been missing from the riverfront experience for too long was food options. The new Tom Lee Park will include two Wooden Pavilions (permanent structures) which will feature Paper Plate Pavilion and Vice & Virtue. Paper Plate Pavilion is a food truck getting its first brick-and-mortar and Vice & Virtue is a coffee shop located inside Arrive Hotel.

Expect cocktails soon once permits are acquired and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream stand. The pavilions are near expansive patio options. We're looking forward to that first coffee morning stroll through the park.

Named in honor of Tyre Nichols, this giant structure anchors the park as a community gathering space. It’ll be an area for events, basketball, concerts, and more. Or simply a place to catch some shade. The structure is seriously impressive.

For scale, it's 20,000 square feet and will make for one of the most unique event venues.

The new park offers a closer connection to nature and not just in the sense of it being an outdoor park. More than 1,000 trees were planted in the park and way more plants that you couldn't begin to count. All the plants are native to the area and they went through lengths to pick seeds from other parks to grow a natural habitat.

In the Habitat Terrace, the south end feature of the park, you can see in the sound gardens and not feel like you are steps away from a city downtown. It's a quiet space to unwind and really hear the sounds of nature.

These spaces will also be used as education classrooms. Not only that but there is a dedicated space for learning with the Buckman Classroom.

It gets real hot along the river during the Memphis summers and now visitors can cool off at the 7,000-square-foot misting fountain at AutoZone Plaza. It also glows with color-changing lights every evening. It's also gentle enough of to cool off in without getting soaked. This is located at the bottom of the ADA-accessible Carlisle Cutbank Bluff next to Beale Street Landing.

Our seven spots we love certainly don't begin to cover every area of Tom Lee Park. It's a start but we want to leave some elements for you to discover along the way.

Memphians deserve nice things and this is a gateway to our city that we can all be proud of.