The Memphis Flyway Opens in Tom Lee Park, Providing a New Unparalleled View of the Mississippi River
MEMPHIS—June 12, 2026—Memphis River Parks has unveiled The Memphis Flyway, the final major capital feature of Tom Lee Park’s award winning redesign plan in Downtown Memphis.
Developed by Studio Gang in collaboration with SCAPE, Tom Lee Park’s design was informed by the dynamic patterns of the Mississippi River, with its globally-acclaimed architecture and landscaping reflecting the sense of motion and change that the river exemplifies.
At the park’s southern end, the 220-foot-long, ADA-accessible Memphis Flyway is an elevated pathway winding through tree canopies and over wetlands to the river. Immersing visitors in nature, it provides an ideal setting for birdwatching along a major North American migratory route.
The $10.4 million project, funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, and private donors, supports immense biodiversity and nature conservation efforts for the region.
The Memphis Flyway’s looped overlook offers expansive views of the park, city, and river. Visitors can watch sunsets over the Mississippi, and during high water, hover over the river. Slender columns minimize the structure’s footprint on the park while the weathered steel recalls the history of the working waterfront. The Memphis Flyway continues the overall plan for Tom Lee Park, with its gradient of active, urban experiences at the north to quieter, ecological moments at the south.
“I have a feeling we're going to see thousands of photos taken from this spot in the years ahead: Family pictures, proposals, visitors showing off Memphis to their friends, moments people will remember,” said Mayor Paul Young at the Memphis Flyway’s ribbon cutting ceremony. “That is what great public spaces do. They create experiences that bring people together and help us see our city in a new way.”
“Our river parks are designed to be explored and to encourage a new point of view,” said Memphis River Parks President & CEO Paul Chandler. “The Memphis Flyway was built exactly for that reason. Whether you’re visiting for the first time, or returning for your daily run or weekly ritual, our role is to make every interaction with our riverfront one worth repeating and sharing.”
For more information, visit memphisriverparks.org.
ABOUT MEMPHIS RIVER PARKS. Memphis River Parks Partnership is the nonprofit organization charged with the management and activation of five miles of riverfront parks and public spaces in Downtown Memphis. The organization has raised over $80 million on behalf of the City of Memphis, transforming undeveloped greenspace and flat lands with a bold vision that is manifest in projects including the world-renowned, 30-acre Tom Lee Park renovation. Recognizing the power of our parks both as a tourism destination and local amenity, we work daily to sustain our shared spaces and ensure that our operations are fully resourced so that these investments may thrive for years to come. Learn more at memphisriverparks.org.