The Partnership
Memphis River Parks Partnership works with and for the people of Memphis to trigger the transformative power of our river.
Mission
Memphis River Parks Partnership is a nonprofit 5O1(c)(3) organization that stewards the riverfront on behalf of the people of Memphis. The Partnership works to create a connected, catalytic and fun riverfront for all guided by the Memphis Riverfront Concept.
IN 2O17, MAYOR STRICKLAND AND THE CITY OF MEMPHIS CREATED A TASK FORCE TO REINVIGORATE THE RIVERFRONT.
That task force commissioned Studio Gang to develop a concept for the transformation of six miles of mostly underused river parks into a connected network of beautiful, natural public spaces that would reconnect Memphians with their river. More than 4,000 Memphians were engaged in the production of the Memphis Riverfront Concept.
Work to execute the Concept started quickly with the reinvention of two former-Confederate parks, now River Garden and Fourth Bluff Park, completed in 2O18 and 2O19. The River Line—a five-mile walking and biking trail that connects all river parks—opened in 2O18. The most visible and accessible riverfront park in Memphis—Tom Lee Park—was next.
BOARD
Chair: Tyree Daniels
Managing Director
Duncan Williams, Inc
Vice Chair: Robert Clark
Director, Office of Government Affairs
St. Jude Research Hospital
Past Chair: Ray Pohlman
President
Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE)
Treasurer: Sam Cantor
Sam Cantor & Company
Secretary: Calvin Anderson
President
Clear Strategies Group
Asst. Secretary: Tammy LoCascio
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
First Horizon
Chairperson Emeritus: Gregory M. Duckett
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Baptist Memorial Hospital Medical Center
Eric Brown
VP & General Manager
Valero
Robert Craddock
Managing Partner
Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
Alan Crone
Chief Executive Officer
Crone Law Firm
Gabe Franceschi
Director of Government and Community Relations for the West region
Tennessee Valley Authority
Dallas Geer
CFO
Poplar Foundation
J.W. Gibson II
Chairman and CEO
Gibson Companies
Liz Gilliland
Bruce B. Hopkins
Retired Chairman
West Tennessee Region, First Horizon Bank
Kim Jordan
Shanea McKinney
Cigna
Michelle McKissack
Board Chair
Memphis Shelby County Schools
Laura Morris
Park and Public Realm Strategist
Billy Orgel
President
Tower Ventures
Amity Schuyler
Chief Innovation Officer and Senior Vice President of Workforce Development
Greater Memphis Chamber
Teresa Sloyan
Executive Director
Hyde Family Foundation
Van Turner Jr.
President - Memphis Branch
NAACP
Kevin Woods
Memphis Market President
BlueCross BlueShield of TN
Kristen Wright
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
AutoZone
Gary Wunderlich
Partner
Live Oak Merchant Partners
EX-OFFICIO:
Jen Andrews
Executive Director
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
Philip Spinosa
Memphis City Councilperson District 5
BOARD MEETINGS
The next board meeting of the Partnership is scheduled for Thursday, February 8 at 1:OO p.m. Email info@memphisriverparks.org for connection details.