The Memphis Park Commission was established in 1900 and since that time has played a key role in promoting the "green" appearance of Memphis.  The original parks, Overton and Riverside, were designed by Landscape Architect George Kessler, and connected by long, avenues (Parkways).  As Memphis grew, so did the city-owned park lands and facilities.   Kessler went on to design the Fairgrounds, Forrest Park, Confederate Park and other sites. Many private citizens of Memphis made significant contributions by deeding land to the city.   In addition, Robert Church, the City's first African-American millionaire, established a park that still bears his name.  Overton Park and Court Square have been thoroughly covered by previous web pages.  This page will only cover some of the more historic parks of the more than 100  Memphis parks.

The Memphis Park Commission has continued to grow over the years and currently acts as steward for six thousand acres of parkland, the city's museum system, seven golf courses, twenty-five community centers, eight senior citizen centers, thirteen "After School" programs, and the Mid-South Fairgrounds, among other facilities. It is an object of pride to Memphians and a tribute to the vision of its founders and designers.  The parks featured on this page are in no particular order.  Click on the small photos to see enlargements.

Riverside Park was designed by George Kessler in 1902 as part of his "grand design" for the Memphis Park system.  The park contains 379 acres, a 9 hole golf course, boat ramp and marina, a lake and scenic river views, playgounds, ball field, four lighted tennis courts, picnic areas, and three pavilions.  The park is located at S. Parkway and Riverside Drive.  The name of the park was changed to "Martin Luther King Riverside Park" in 1968.

Riverside Lake

Picnic Grounds - 1908

Riverside Park

 

Confederate Park was designed by George Kessler as a Memorial to the Civil War, and was dedicated in 1908.  It was part of Kessler's original "Grand Design" for Memphis.  During the Civil War, the Mississippi River at Memphis was the sight of an intense battle as Southern forces fought to keep control of the waterfront.  It wasn't enough.  The Union crushed the Confederacy.  Many lives were lost as well as the control of Memphis and the entire river.  Those troops who died are remembered at Confederate Park.  Today, the park provides a great perspective of where the battle occurred and there are markers where you can read first-hand what happened during the battle.

In spite of the Civil War theme, Confederate park became a dumping ground for a lot of old junk, none related to the Civil War - battered artillery from WWI, E. H. Crump's totem pole, and a concrete block inscribed with the Ten Commandments, as well as numerous fountains.  In 1964, the park finally got its Civil War centerpiece, a statue of Jefferson Davis.  Davis had lived in Memphis from 1875 to 1878 and a group raised the money to erect the statue.  Originally, the park had authentic Civil War cannons, but they were sacrificed for scrap metal during WWII and later WWII cannons were added to the park.  Those cannons have been removed and the Shelby County Historical Commission has announced plans to purchase 4 reproduction Civil War cannons to place in Confederate park.  

In 2013 the city government very quickly renamed this park to Memphis Park.  In 2017 the city government, in a late meeting, changed some laws and sold the park to a non-profit organization for $1000.  The organization immediately removed the statue of Jefferson Davis to an undisclosed location.  To be continued ...

1907

Esplanade

1910

From the river

Davis statue 2017

This park has long been a point of racial controversy in Memphis, with local officials and other groups periodically rallying to rename the park and remove the statue of Forrest, a revered leader in the Civil War, who was a slave trader and the reputed leader of the Ku Klux Klan after the war.  There are also efforts to move the graves of Forrest and his wife Mary.  Forrest was considered an innovative cavalry leader during the war and he never lost a battle.  And it's widely believed that he served as the first Grand Wizard of the KKK.  In 1875 he was welcomed at the "Jubilee of Pole Bearers" an African-American political group, where he received applause for his speech that focused on friendship between the black and white races.

 In 2013 the city government quickly renamed this park to Health Sciences Park.  In 2017 the city government, in a late meeting, changed some laws and then sold the park to a non-profit organization for $1000.  The organization immediately removed the statue to an undisclosed location.  To be continued ...

1909

1906  

1909

Skating in the Park

  Aerial view of Park

           1905

*The Forrest Monument Park is extensively covered on a separate page  > Forrest Monument  

When Riverside Drive was constructed in the mid-1930s, Jefferson Davis Park was built on what had been an old dumping ground for construction debris and dredge materials from the Mississippi River.  It was enlarged to its present size in 1937, using more material dredged from the river.  The Park was named after Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, who lived in Memphis from 1869 to 1878 and who was president of an insurance company here. 

In 2013 the city government very quickly renamed this park to Mississippi River Park.

W. C. Handy Park, located on Beale Street, was dedicated to "Father of the Blues", W. C. Handy in 1931.  Since its creation, the park has been a meeting ground for musicians, with Blues artists still playing in the park for tips.    Today, the area is an outdoor performing arts park, where in good weather, street musicians start wandering about noon.  The old Beale Street Market House from 1899 originally occupied this site but was torn down to make room for the park.  The statue of Handy was decidated in 1960.

This park is named after Robert Reed Church, who was a business leader, philanthropist, and millionaire born in 1839.  In 1899, because the City of Memphis didn't provide recreational facilities for its African-American citizens, Mr. Church opened "Church's Park and Auditorium".  The park was beautifully landscaped and manicured, with bright flowers, tropical trees and peacocks.  Their was a swimming pool for the children.  The auditorium had a seating capacity of 2,000 and became the cultural center for the region's African-American community.  The center hosted world leaders and speakers from Booker T. Washington to President Theodore Roosevelt.  And the house orchestra was led by none other than W. C. Handy. 

Years later, the city took over management of the park and auditorium, and during the 1940s, in a racially motivated move, the city renamed the Auditorium "Beale Avenue Auditorium".   After years of neglect, some structures on the site were demolished, including the auditorium.   And then the land was empty and barren until 1987, when it was finally refurbished and landscaped into a tree-shaded grassy area.  In 1993, the park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and was made part of the Beale Street Historic District.  In 1994, Roberta Church, the granddaughter of the founder, gave the park and the city a large 22,000 pound white granite and bronze memorial monument, erected in memory of and dedicated to her father, Robert Church, Jr.  The monument features a bronze bust of Robert R. Church, Sr.

     Church Park c. 1910

Robert Church and family are extensively covered on a separate page.   >   RobertReedChurch  

The Fairgrounds is extensively covered on a separate page.  Please visit the page   . Fairgrounds . 

Liberty Bowl

Established in 1982, the 52 acre Mississippi River Park, located on Mud Island, includes bike trails, petal boats, rafts, as well as a hydraulic scale model of the lower Mississippi River.  Major cities and small towns located on the river are marked in the scale model and markers explain the history and facts about the river.  To learn all about the river, you follow the 5-block-long model.  The park is a unique historical, cultural and educational facility.  Mud Island first appeared in 1900 and became permanent in 1913.  At one time the island joined with the mainland but a diversion canal was dug through the island.   You can walk to Mud Island or take the Monorail car.

Monorail to the Park        

Audubon Park, established in 1953,  is located near the University of Memphis and provides a wide assortment of entertainment options for visitors.  Within the 375 acres, there's a golf course, play area, tennis courts, soccer field, picnic areas, pavilions, and jogging/walking trails.  The Memphis Botanic Gardens are also located within Audubon Park.

Audubon Golf Course

Botanic Garden entrance

Visitors Center Btanic Gardens

De Soto Park was actually built by the Native American Indian inhabitants of early 16th century Memphis.  The De Soto Mounds are named after Hernando De Soto, who stormed through Memphis in search for gold in 1541.  These two elliptical mounds are believed to have been used as substructures for temples, or burial mounds.  In 1911, a park was built around the De Soto Mounds and in 1913, the park was named De Soto Park.  However, De Soto park was often referred to as Chickasaw Park because of the "Chickasaw Mounds" - even though there was already another Chickasaw Park.  Today, there is a basketball court, large spacious lawns and rolling hills and a splendid view of the Mississippi.   The De Soto Park name was officially changed  to Chickasaw Heritage Park in 1995.

Chickasaw Mound

Chickasaw Park - Bluff Park  .  Front Steet

This Park is not the same as Chickasaw HERITAGE Park.  This early Chickasaw Park was a very small park on Chickasaw Bluff, next to Cossitt Library and the Customs House.  We only know about it because its name appears on early Memphis Post Cards.  This Chickasaw Park was demolished (Are you surprised?) in the 1900s.  A fire station and parking garage (Are you surprised?) are at the location now.

Couple in Park

The area 1910

Beginnings of a Park 1910

 Chickasaw Gardens is an upscale Memphis neighborhood.  In the heart of this neighborhood is Chickasaw Gardens Park - a 22 acre retreat, laid out by Harland Bartholomew in 1920.  The park features a lake with a concrete path around the west side.  No fishing or boats allowed.  The beautiful park and the curving streets, mature trees, and fine homes make Chickasaw Gardens one of the most sought after neighborhoods in the city.  The land here was originally part of the estate of Clarence Saunders of the self-service grocery fame.  It was part of an elaborate garden, with rustic bridges and a playhouse for his children.

New Photos in the Spring

New Photos in the Spring

Douglass Park, established in 1913, was Memphis' first park for African Americans.  Located behind Douglass High School, it's where many children have come together since the 1960s for day camp during the summer months.  Children are taught how to play indoor and outdoor sports, arts, and crafts, children's theater, and they participate in competitive sports.  The Juneteenth celebration and the Douglass Expos is held in Douglass Park.

Overton Park and Court Square Park have been extensively covered on other  pages of this website.  Please visit them.   Visit the Court Square page  > Court Square   .  Visit the Overton Park page  > Memphis Overton Park 

*John Gaston is extensively covered on a separate page > >   John Gaston