News Summary
Memphis is set to implement new parking regulations to enhance visitor access to Tom Lee Park after extensive road construction on Riverside Drive concludes in mid-August 2025. The initiative includes offering the first hour of parking free on weekdays and free parking all day on Sundays. The revised plan will provide 89 diagonal parking spots, with a focus on improving visitor experience while addressing concerns over insufficient parking in the area.
Memphis – New parking regulations aimed at improving visitor access to Tom Lee Park will go into effect upon completion of current road construction along Riverside Drive, expected to wrap up by mid-August 2025. The updated parking policy introduces significant changes, including the first hour of parking free on weekdays and completely free parking all day on Sundays.
With the construction work closing a section of Riverside Drive between Beale Street and Georgia Avenue, city officials have decided to revise how parking will be managed in the area. In 2024, data revealed that a substantial 70% of visits to Tom Lee Park lasted less than one hour, supporting the decision to offer an hour of free parking during weekdays.
Once the construction concludes, parking along Riverside Drive will consist of 89 diagonal parking spaces. Notably, only four of these spaces will be designated as ADA accessible and will be exempt from payment. The construction project, which aimed to enhance the parking facility, also involves reducing the number of lanes from four to two to create nearly two dozen additional parking spots directly in front of the park.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Memphis has expressed concerns regarding insufficient parking options at Tom Lee Park for several years. This issue was compounded by a previous $62 million renovation project that removed a parking lot, eliminating nearly 200 parking spots. Originally, the redevelopment plans had aspirational goals of providing 100 to 130 parking spaces. However, when the park reopened in 2023, only 67 free parallel spaces were available on the west side of Riverside Drive.
Details about the exact parking fees have yet to be disclosed, although the parking arrangements in the past, at two lots overlooking Tom Lee Park, charged $5.23 for one hour of parking. In light of the new regulations, a spokesperson from the mayor’s office indicated that the city is actively exploring various paid parking options as a means to better manage on-street parking. The intention behind paid parking is to facilitate a turnover of public spaces and ultimately improve the overall visitor experience.
Parking revenue generated from these new arrangements is expected to fund essential enhancements, including added security measures, improved lighting, and ongoing maintenance efforts. These improvements aim to create a safer and more welcoming environment for all visitors to Tom Lee Park.
As the construction progresses and parking policies are implemented, residents and visitors alike are anticipating significant improvements to the accessibility and usability of Tom Lee Park. The Riverside Drive construction project is on track to reopen to traffic on August 15, 2025, potentially heralding a new era of enhanced visitor experiences at the park.
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Additional Resources
- WREG: No More Free Parking at Tom Lee Park
- Wikipedia: Tom Lee Park
- Choose901: Tom Lee’s Mississippi River Gumption Revival Lantern Parade
- Google Search: Tom Lee Park Memphis
- Local Memphis: ABC24 Highlights Sunset Skate at Tom Lee Park
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Tom Lee Park
- MSN: Will Changes Solve Parking Problems at Tom Lee Park?
- FOX13: Honoring Namesake of Memphis Tom Lee Park
- ArchDaily: Tom Lee Park by Scape + Studio Gang
- Google News: Tom Lee Park Memphis Parking
Author: STAFF HERE MEMPHIS WRITER
MEMPHIS STAFF WRITER The MEMPHIS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMemphis.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Memphis, Shelby County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Beale Street Music Festival, Elvis Week, and Memphis in May International Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and music that power the local economy such as FedEx, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and AutoZone. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREKnoxville.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
