Parks & Recreation - Parks And Recreation
Those who like to get out and enjoy the outdoors will find many options in Memphis. The city has some 187 parks and 34 walking trails that encompass nearly 6,000 acres, and beyond the city limits there’s Shelby Farms, the largest urban park in the United States, with more than 4,500 acres. Best of all, because of the area’s relatively mild winters, parks, golf courses, and other amenities can be enjoyed year-round. As for recreation you’ll find many options, both in the city and within an easy drive. So get out there and have some fun.
Overview
Parks have been part of city planning since the city fathers first laid out the town of Memphis in 1819, and Memphians have not been afraid to fight to preserve their favorite parks. For example, in the 1960s and 1970s government leaders planned to build Interstate 40 right through midtown’s Overton Park, but popular opposition, which led to a Supreme Court ruling to block the plans, saved the park. In 2007 commissioners unanimously voted to end 25 years of controversy surrounding a proposed highway that would likewise slice through Shelby Farms. At present, plans are underway to turn the area into a world-class park. Memphians are also keeping a sharp eye on plans to develop the downtown Mississippi riverfront, to make sure the waterfront remains accessible to the public.
Local parks offer a variety of amenities and activities, from walking trails and fishing lakes to swimming pools, tennis courts, and golf courses. The parks also have large stately oaks, cottonwoods, and other trees that make the city green and beautiful.
The largest city parks are Overton Park in midtown, M. L. King/Riverside in south Memphis near downtown, and Audubon Park in East Memphis. There are numerous others, ranging in size from a block to more than 300 acres. We can’t list them all, but you can get a complete listing or find out which parks are nearest you by calling the Memphis Parks Commission (also known as the City of Memphis Division of Park Services) public information line at (901) 454-5200 or go to www.cityofmemphis.org. The suburbs Germantown, Bartlett, and Collierville all maintain parks, services, and recreational activities of their own. Contact the Germantown Parks and Recreation Department at (901) 757-7375 or visit www.ci.germantown.tn.us. For more information on Bartlett parks, call (901) 385-5590 or visit www.cityofbartlett.org. Collierville parks details are available by calling (901) 853-0889 or by visiting www.collierville.com.
Just outside the city you’ll find two large parks, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park and Shelby Farms, each with fishing lakes, hiking and bike trails, and a host of other amenities. If you’re willing to venture out farther from the city, you’ll find a number of state parks where recreation facilities abound. Because Memphis is at the extreme southwest corner of Tennessee, bordering Mississippi and Arkansas, Memphis residents and visitors have access to three state park systems. There are no major national parks in west Tennessee, with the exception of Shiloh National Military Park, which is described in the Day Trips and Weekend Getaways chapter.
Tennis buffs will find a number of tennis complexes operated by the parks commission. The city also operates seven golf courses around the city, and a wide array of daily-fee courses are scattered throughout the metropolitan area and beyond.
City community centers are also a part of the park system, and many of them have pools. Admission to the pools is free, and lessons are available for anyone age three or older. Other activities for young people at community centers include basketball and volleyball, while for senior citizens there are cultural and educational activities.
Organized sports activities are available under the auspices of the Memphis Parks Commission. It sponsors amateur adult sports leagues for baseball, softball, basketball, and touch football as well as youth sports programs for baseball, basketball, and volleyball. Other leagues are organized through area churches, and, of course, schools have sports teams.
As for indoor activities you’ll find a whole host of options to keep you busy, including skating and bowling. There are also driving ranges, which tend to be family entertainment centers that also have go-karts, batting cages, and video games on-site.
Water sports are also popular, which is no surprise given the mild climate and the proximity of the Mississippi River. Old Man River can be a dangerous guy, though, given its currents, whirlpools, and the huge waves that towboats create. It’s for experienced boaters only, so you may want to opt for one of the lakes in the area, several of which are less than an hour’s drive from the city. Check the listings for state parks. For canoeing we suggest some rivers in the area that are picture perfect for paddling.
We also list options for fishing and hunting, two popular activities in this part of the country. Finally, we include some information on great places to enjoy hiking and mountain biking.
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 4145 Southern Avenue
2. Kennedy Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 4577 Raleigh–LaGrange Road
Description: In 1962 the city bought the 310 acres on which Kennedy Park now sits, and the first order of business was to fill in the gravel pits on the property before developing the amenities. Situated on Raleigh–LaGrange Road just beyond the Interstate 240 loop, the park is set so far back from the street that it’s hard to see. Just take the Covington Pike exit from I-240 and turn left onto Raleigh–LaGrange Road, and the park is about a mile on the left. Kennedy Park is geared toward softball, with several lighted baseball and softball diamonds. Each of them has stands, and there are concessions during summer games, which make it a popular place during the season. You’ll also find four lighted soccer fields, a junior football field, and plenty of parking near all the fields.
3. Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: This is one of the city’s oldest large parks, established at the turn of the twentieth century when the city acquired property on a bluff overlooking the river. It’s a historic site, and there are indications of burial sites from multiple periods. Originally named Riverside, it was renamed for Dr. King in 1968. Amenities include playground equipment and a baseball field as well as a nine-hole golf course, tennis, nature trails, and boat ramp access to McKellar Lake. In 2007 the 388-acre park added a clubhouse facility as part of its golf course.
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 2080 Poplar Avenue
5. Confederate Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: This is one of the city’s oldest parks. During the Civil War, Memphians came here in carriages to watch the Battle of Memphis between Confederate cannon on the bank and Union gunships. The park was used as a dump during the latter part of the 19th century, until in 1900 the parks commission brought it back to life. This small park offers a great view of the river from atop the bluffs, as well as a statue of Confederacy president Jefferson Davis and cannon from World War I. It’s easily accessible on foot to visitors who are exploring downtown Memphis and may not want to take the downhill walk to the cobblestones and other parks adjacent to the river.
6. Greenbelt Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: This paved, 1.5-mile walkway along the Mississippi River starts at a convenient parking area just north of where the Auction Avenue bridge crosses from downtown and continues north to another parking area at the other end of the peninsula called Mud Island. It’s a popular spot for residents, who flock here to walk, jog, skate, ride scooters and bikes, or walk animals. The walkway forms a loop surrounding a long, flat grassy lawn, and you can get a great view of the river from here.
7. Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: This 388-acre park, near South Parkway and about 3 miles south of Beale Street, is home to a nine-hole golf course.
8. Tom Lee Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: Situated below the bluffs and just across Riverside from downtown Memphis, Tom Lee Park offers great views of the Mississippi River. There’s plenty of room for picnics, walking, or tossing a Frisbee. During the 1990s, the park was expanded to 24 acres, landscaped, and equipped with a parking lot, restrooms, and sidewalks. The park, originally named Astor Park, was renamed in honor of Tom Lee, a black laborer who saved 32 passengers in 1925 when the USS Norman sank in the river near Memphis. In May the park is closed to visitors and given over to the events of Memphis in May, which include a music festival and a massive barbecue cooking contest. After dark, the park morphs into a youth hangout, as parades of cars continually cruise the lot.
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 1500 Mitchell Road
13. John West Kyle State Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (662) 487-1345
Description: This park is centered on 58,500-acre Sardis Reservoir, well suited to boating, Jet Skiing, and almost any other water activities you can think of. The Sardis Lower Lake has several beaches for swimming. The park also includes a facility for your large group’s activities. If you want to stay overnight and you didn’t bring your tent, ask about the park’s cabins. There’s also a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a recreation building in the park. The group campsite can hold 150 to 200 people on Sardis Lower Lake, and there are adjacent swimming beaches and nature trails. There’s also a new marina with docking amenities (662-578-7922). John West Kyle State Park is located 9 miles east of Sardis off Highway 315. From Memphis take I-55 south and get off at exit 252.
14. J. P. Coleman State Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (662) 423-6515
Description: Another nice park on the Tennessee River at huge Pickwick Lake, this is a wonderful place to practice your backstroke, put your boat in the water for some skiing or fishing, or just stroll peacefully along the bank. Cabins and motel rooms are available for overnight stays if you aren’t prepared to pitch a tent or bring an RV; and if you’d prefer a pool to the lake, there’s one of those here, too. A complete marina is on-site to serve you as well, plus miniature golf and a playground for the children. There’s also a convention center that can accommodate up to 150 people. The park is located in the northeast corner of the state, 13 miles north of Iuka. Take U.S. Highway 72 past Corinth, Mississippi, and go north on Highway 25.
15. Wall Doxey State Park
City: Memphis, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (662) 252-4231
Description: The 45-acre, spring-fed lake at Wall Doxey State Park is an excellent location for numerous water sports. The park has excellent facilities to accommodate large groups. Within the park, visitors will find a large activity field, a playground, a nature trail, a visitor center, and productive fishing spots. Also, there are two 20-hole disk golf courses. Lodging facilities include a group campsite (which can accommodate 104 people), 9 cabins, 64 improved campsites, and 18 tent camping pads. From Memphis take U.S. Highway 78 south, turn right off the Holly Springs exit onto Highway 7, and follow the signs to the park 6 miles south.