The redesigned Tom Lee Park along Memphis’ riverfront has been awarded one dozen major awards, most recently on the global stage as recipient of the Large Urban Park Award for North America by World Urban Parks. Announced in Istanbul, Turkey at the World Urban Parks Symposium, the award celebrates excellence in urban parks and green spaces worldwide. Tom Lee Park is one of just three North American large urban parks to be honored by the international parks organization.

Ten developments from across the Americas have been selected as winners of the Urban Land Institute’s 2025 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence.  The program evaluates submissions on overall excellence, including achievements in marketplace acceptance, design, planning, technology, amenities, economic impact, management, community engagement, innovation, and sustainability, among others.  This year, 94 projects and programs from across the Americas region were submitted for the competition. 

This is National Pollinator Week, and Memphians are invited to the riverfront to celebrate the bees, birds, bats, beetles and butterflies that are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food.

This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking -- and perhaps, underappreciated -- views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure in your area.

The 2025 Regional & Urban Design program recognizes the best in urban design, regional and city planning, and community development. The best planning accounts for the entire built environment, local culture, and available resources—modeling architecture’s promise and true value to communities.

Where are America’s best porches? The selections showcase a range of practitioners and projects.

“What is the agency of the urban designer? How do we not just make landscapes, buildings, and public space, but make change?”

Tom Lee Park is one of 18 finalists across North and South America for the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) prestigious Americas Awards for Excellence.

“Tom Lee Park signifies a turning point in the city’s relationship with its riverfront, with an emphasis on inclusivity, restorative ecology, equity and opportunity,” ULI wrote on its website. “It catalyzes the reunification of river and city by transforming a significant piece of the riverfront into a signature park where community life can flourish along the water’s edge and attracts 1 million visitors annually.”

Memphis is shining a light on Tom Lee, a local and national hero, as it prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lee’s legendary river rescue.

We’ve all been to Tom Lee Park, either before or after its $60 million reimagining transformed Memphis’ relationship to the riverfront. Maybe you’ve seen the statue of a young Black man reaching out from a rowboat to rescue a person in the water. But do you know who Tom Lee was? 

A century ago this month, Tom Lee gained national fame for rescuing passengers after a riverboat disaster near Memphis. Here’s the story of the man behind the myth.

by Michael Finger

May 8 marks 100 years since Tom Lee rescued 32 people from the Mississippi River south of Memphis when their boat, the M.E. Norman, capsized..