Memphis' Tom Lee Park, designed by SCAPE and Studio Gang, recently reopened to the public, reconnecting Memphians with the Mississippi riverfront . The Architect's Newspaper covered the park’s opening, calling it a "Mississippi Masterpiece."

The 31-acre park is organized into a series of programmatic zones that mimic the dynamic hydrology and sediment flows of the Mississippi River—with forms inspired by riffles, pools, micro-deltas, and tail outs—weaving together circulation and topography into spaces that showcase hardy riparian ecosystems.

“SCAPE’s work began with extensive remediation to the compacted soil,” writes Jack Murphy. “The landscape design took inspiration from the river and all its riffles, micro-deltas, and tailouts. In plan, it has winding lines that mimic sedimentary flows”

The park is named for Tom Lee, a Black river worker who saved 32 people from a sinking steamship in 1925 despite not knowing how to swim. The design celebrates Lee’s legacy of generosity, while still confronting conversations about justice.

“Tom Lee Park is a major infrastructure investment for the city, but it is meaningful for Black Memphians in particular,” writes Murphy.

Read the full article here.