Tom Lee Park is the best free place in downtown Memphis to sit and watch the Mississippi. It is a 31-acre riverfront park at the foot of Beale Street, named for Tom Lee, the Black river worker who became a hero in 1925 by rescuing 32 people from the water after a steamboat capsized, though he could not swim himself. The park was rebuilt and reopened in September 2023, replacing the old flat lawn with rolling hills, native plants and trees. The new design adds plenty to do. The Life on the River Playground is a river-themed play area, Hammock Grove invites you to settle in with a book, and the Sunset Canopy is a large timber structure used for pickup basketball, yoga, skating, concerts and festivals. The Carlisle Cutbank Bluff gives the first fully accessible route down to the river, the Memphis Flyway is a 218-foot elevated walkway along the water, and public art includes Theaster Gates’s A Monument to Listening and the Tom Lee Memorial. A welcome centre staffed by a park ranger can answer questions and lend balls and equipment. The park is open daily from early morning until about half an hour after sunset, with the welcome centre and café keeping seasonal hours. It is run by the Memphis River Parks Partnership, which manages a connected chain of riverfront parks, linked by a roughly five-mile riverwalk. For visitors it is a convenient, low-cost break after the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum or Beale Street, and a good place to watch sunset over the river.
How to visit
The park is at the western end of Beale Street, an easy walk from The Peabody and the downtown hotels, with on-street parking nearby on Riverside Drive. Hours run daily from 6:00 in the morning until half an hour after sunset. The welcome centre and café hours vary by season, so check the Partnership’s site if you plan to use them.
What to expect
Wide open lawns, shaded paths, public art and constant river views, with families, joggers and picnickers sharing the space. Bring water in summer. Events and festivals use the grounds at times, which can change how much of the park is open, so look at the calendar before a weekend visit.
Making the most of it
Come in the late afternoon, walk to the Flyway and watch the light change over the river, then walk a few blocks up to Beale Street for dinner and music. Pair it with the Big River Crossing for a bigger riverfront day, and keep it in mind as a free option on a budget trip.
What to expect
The experience
A free riverfront park with lawns, a playground, public art, a river overlook and the Memphis Flyway walkway.
Best time
Late afternoon into sunset.
How long
One to two hours.
Tips
Bring water in summer, check the events calendar before a weekend visit and combine it with Beale Street.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Sunset watchers, families and anyone wanting a free riverfront break.
- Families
- The river-themed playground and open lawns suit children well.
- Couples
- A sunset walk along the river before dinner on Beale Street.
- Pair with
- Beale Street and the Big River Crossing.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
Who was Tom Lee?+
Tom Lee was a Black river worker who rescued 32 people from the Mississippi after a steamboat capsized in 1925, even though he could not swim.
When did the park reopen?+
It reopened in September 2023 after a full rebuild that added rolling lawns, a playground and public art.
What are the hours?+
The park is open daily from 6:00 in the morning until half an hour after sunset. The welcome centre and café keep seasonal hours.
How big is it?+
It covers 31 acres at the foot of Beale Street.
What is the Memphis Flyway?+
It is a 218-foot elevated walkway along the river inside the park.
