D O W N T O W N N E I G H B O R H O O D A S S O C I A T I O N
Jerred Price
President – Downtown Neighborhood Association
648 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN 38105
1/28/2021
Mayor Jim Strickland &
Memphis City Council
125 N Main St, Memphis, TN 38103
RE: Riverside Drive & Tom Lee Park Parking Lot
Dear Mayor & City Council,
I am writing you today to express concerns over the weekend closure of Riverside Drive as well as the closure of the parking lot at Tom Lee Park.
In February 2020, our city faced an unknown, unforeseen enemy that would end up taking the lives of many of our fellow Memphians. Thankfully, the city took quick, decisive action to try to mitigate the spread. In the “Safer at Home” order, the city advised Memphians to stay indoors and social distance. Unfortunately, some did not do their part and gathered in large groups in parks throughout the city. The city then took decisive action to close off vehicular access to city parks to prevent large gatherings. I fully support this decision considering the circumstances.
Additionally, our association and several downtowners have learned that the city granted permission for the closure of Riverside Drive during the early months of the pandemic to add “a new park experience” to Tom Lee Park by allowing the thoroughfare to be used for skating, scootering, and other activities.
Unfortunately, the closure of this street had several adverse effects that were not considered by the city. Soon after its closure, several disabled neighbors from downtown as well as from neighboring areas reached out to us to express complications with access to the park. The city & Memphis River Parks Partnership closed the street which is the only access to the lot where the only ADA parking spaces are available for Tom Lee Park. After hearing from several dozen disabled neighbors, the Memphis Center of Independent Living (who also sent
a letter to the Mayor and Council on this subject), and others, we reached out to the city to ask them to meet with us via Zoom to discuss.
Chief McGowan and city engineers graciously met with us and agreed to open Riverside Drive Monday through Friday. However, the parking lot at the park remained closed 7 days a week. Additionally, they committed to a “fix” for the disabled parking when it would be closed on weekends. Their solution was to create a “designed parking area” for the disabled at the end of Beale @ Riverside Drive. However, this solution is still far from equitable for these disabled neighbors. If our disabled neighbors park there (some with walking disabilities, some with breathing disabilities, etc.), it is nearly ¾ mile from there to the centerpiece of the park, the Tom Lee Statue. Comparatively, it is only .10 mile from the designated handicap parking in the parking lot to the same destination.
Furthermore, DNA has been contacted by several business in the downtown area, including one of Memphis’ oldest business: Memphis River Boats. These businesses expressed concerns with accessibility from their customers and complaints that have come to the forefront. People visiting Memphis or coming to shop/eat/dine downtown complained to them about how this street closure limits access to the core of downtown when utilizing I-40 & I-55 to get downtown. Furthermore, neighboring associations such as French Fort, Founders Point, and Mud Island also reached out and said that this street closure, even on weekends, is very problematic for access to the park and to the core of downtown. For those that use the street often, commute times have increased by forcing them to use the streets in the heart of downtown. Those who live to the South & North of the street have seen increased emergency response times as traffic and routes to their location become more crowded and limited due to the streets closure.
Another concern we have been contacted about several times is the increased traffic flow into residential neighborhoods that lie on Georgia St & Front Streets. Steve Phillips, President of Waterford tower, has seen increased cruising, traffic, and parking lot activity in front and
around his tower at the base of Beale & Riverside. Glen Murtha, President of River Tower, also met with DNA to express his frustration with the streets closure deeming it takes him much longer to get to dining/entertainment/work by forcing him to go into the core of the city rather than utilizing Riverside to access the core.
Safety concerns are prominent with this street and have been for years. Action is being taken to address these concerns from several aspects. DNA and several other association presidents that sit on the “Neighborhoods for Memphis” committee are working closely with city engineering to create solutions that will slow own the concerns we all share with speeding and loitering in the lot. City engineering is currently reviewing the possibility of installing rumble strips proposed by DNA that will serve as a speeding deterrent as well as bring attention to the speed limit signs placed near them. Additionally, they will be placed strategically before crosswalks to slow down traffic and bring awareness to pedestrians crossing the thoroughfare.
In conclusion, this road closure, even on weekends, in addition to the parking lot closure is very problematic. Precedent for a street closure, even when it’s a small side street in East Memphis (Mimosa Drive), involves in depth traffic studies (requiring the requesting party to pay for them) and community/public feedback meetings. Based on all the above examples of several different entities who represent thousands of voters, this closure is not supported by the majority our neighbors. Equally important is the grave concern from our disabled neighbors and the organizations that stand for their equity.
I, with the concerns of those mentioned above and several more (as I have been CC’d on several letters going to the city), am asking that the city reopen this public, taxpayer paid for, major thoroughfare & public parking lot. This unique drive in our city has distinct national recognition of being one of “Americas Byways” and was deemed “the multimillion-dollar drive” when it was built. Let’s restore its intended use and allow for equitable access for all.
Thank you for your time,
/Signed/
Jerred Price
President – Downtown Neighborhood Association
CC: Neighborhoods for Memphis Committee, Memphis Center of Independent Living, Brooks Law Firm, DNA Board of Directors
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