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    Tom Lee Park

    4.4 (31 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Tom Lee Park Photos

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    Carolyn C.

    Woah, impressive. This is a giant epic playground that also includes free equipment rental, basketball courts, track, volleyball area, restrooms, lockers, waterfront walking trail, picnic tables, numerous seating areas, hammocks, and two gym areas (RiverFit) for adults. I wish we had a playground like this back home! Memphis doesn't have much, but this playground area makes up for their lack in activities. It gets pretty packed with families, but no one is on top of each other (this statement does not include the playing kids). You and your kids can for sure meet new friends here!

    An incredible park whose amenities are as stunning as the views of the Mississippi River. A must-see.

    Homeschool day at Tom Lee Park

    This is a world-class park in Downtown Memphis. Well worth a visit. There are basketball courts (with free ball check-out), a really cool playground, winding walking trails and beautiful landscaping -- all backed by the Mississippi River. Beautiful public art and a nice history lesson about a Black man, Tom Lee, who couldn't swim but saved a bunch of white people when their boat capsized in the 1920s. So glad this is in Memphis, where we've never really capitalized on our riverfront. My photos are from the park's first homeschool day. I took them as part of my work with this great organization.

    Shanay H.

    This park was a nice stop before we went to the airport. There is a nice trail and some nice art/sculptures to look at as you walk around. In the middle there is a building/event area where you can see the progress of the park and what the future plans of the park are. During our time in Memphis we seen a lot of people here during all times of the day. It was beautiful to see a diverse group of people at the park enjoying the day/evening.

    Melissa B.

    On Sunday, July 27, 2014, Tony, Noel and I arrived at the Riverfront park named "TOM LEE PARK" after a very famous hero that saved many people out of the Mississippi River. The park is very nice and is Free. The statue is amazing! They have the BBQ Cookoff here at this park every year on the third week of May. I found some information on the internet that I wanted to share: om Lee Park is a city park located to the immediate west of downtown Memphis, Tennessee, overlooking the Mississippi River. Encompassing about 30 acres (0.12 km²) parallel to the Mississippi River for about one mile (1.6 km), it offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the shores of Arkansas on the opposite side. The park is named after Tom Lee, an African-American riverworker, who saved the lives of 32 passengers of the sinking steamboat M.E. Norman in 1925.[1] Tom Lee Park is a popular location for walkers, joggers, roller bladers and cyclists, and hosts events throughout the year, including the Beale Street Music Festival that kicks off Memphis in May. I will definitely go to this park again once the weather is very sunny and very nice. I think my photos would be much nicer.

    Caprice F.

    I was here for the 2018 Beale Street Music Festival a couple weeks ago. This park is huge and sits right along the river. It's a very nice park and was the perfect venue for the three different large stages of the festival. The backdrop of the sunset on the water was very picturesque.

    Donna M.

    Tom Lee Park is the most familiar Memphis Park, because of its association with the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the signature event of the Memphis in May International Festival. It was named after Tom Lee, an African-American riverworker, who saved the lives of 32 passengers of the sinking steamboat M.E. Norman in 1925. The new bronze sculpture is amazingly lifelike. 32 footlights come on @ Sunset. The Park is adjacent to Beale Street Landing, & runs South about 1 mile parallel to the Mississippi River ~ total area is about 30 acres. Walk it in Family Circus fashion, as I do when I judge the BBQ Contest, & your Fitbit will go nuts. Panoramic views of the river make it a popular exercise & Sunset-viewing choice year-round. The M Bridge all lit up @ night is stunning. Young & old will be walking, jogging, rollerblading, or cycling daily except in extreme heat or cold. If you haven't been in a while, you will be surprised @ the improvements. The number of Visitors enjoying Tom Lee Park has increased more than 400% since RiverFit was installed.

    Maria P.

    Great place to walk and view the river. I have also been to a few events here and they were fun and the night view is gorgeous. An all around good spot to exercise, have a picnic, walk the dog, or sit back and relax. Just go early as it tends to get hot in the afternoon and crowded.

    Ellyse L.

    I love parks with a view. The park runs next to the Mississippi River with long paths for jogging. Along the course, there are stations for calisthenics, which are somewhat new (within the last 5 years is my guess). Tuesday at noon, the parking lot was probably a quarter of the way occupied. Probably in spring/summer, this place gets full, but during winter it's fine. Going North there is an indoor eatery, a kids playground, and some additional structured space. It's a nice walk generally, and I bet it looks better when the grass isn't all dead haha. Glad I came through though!

    Park signage
    Vernice S.

    May is the best month to visit the city of Memphis. This year instead of hosting another Country, we are celebrating Memphis. A month long celebration for the Bicentennial for Memphis, TN. Yes, my city is 200 years old & the River Run 5k is an event held at this beautiful park.

    What A Spot
    Darian M.

    This place is my GO TO spot to get my workout on. After a Hard day at the office, this is the spot to be. Great views, amazing Options for routes and occasionally passing of those in route to the Fall farmers market. If you get a chance?! Check out the insane stairs that many can be seen sprinting on daily as well as the hillside area overlooking Beale Street Landing. Amazing Area!

    View of the new bridge from the river walk
    Jennifer B.

    The river walk path above Riverside is a wonderful place for an early run. And in Memphis, you had better run early - it is a HOT, muggy city, but a little breeze off the Mighty Mississippi is all you need to keep you going. Lots of stairs for ramping up (forgive the pun) your run and head up to the elevated walking paths - you can walk all the way from Monroe to what we (former) locals call "the old Bridge". Beautiful homes on the bluff above, the "Mississippi Queen" riverboat in front. Benches for resting for a moment before you continue enjoying the views and great paths.

    Sunset Symphony
    Dean D.

    Equipped with our lounge chairs, a bottle of wine and some sandwiches; this years Sunset Symphony was absolutely perfect with temperatures in the low 80's during the day and cooling down nicely as the sun went down in the evening. The music was outstanding and the fireworks at the end topped another great Memphis in May!

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    3 years ago

    The new Tom Lee Park is an awesome place to go with the family. I highly recommend a visit!

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    11 years ago

    Great park for events and running. Great river views especially at sundown.

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    Review Highlights - Tom Lee Park

    6 km), it offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the shores of Arkansas on the opposite side.

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    Memphis Botanic Garden - Flower in the greenhouse

    Memphis Botanic Garden

    4.5(156 reviews)
    8.5 miAudubon-Oak Court

    I'll be honest--I am not what anyone would describe as an "outdoorsy person." My idea of nature is…read moreusually parking close to the entrance. But my wife wanted to visit the Memphis Botanic Garden for her birthday, and somehow this place turned me into a calm, peaceful woodland citizen for a few hours. First off, the weather was absolutely perfect, which already gives nature a huge advantage. Then you walk the grounds and realize this place is legitimately beautiful. Ducks casually living their best lives, koi fish gliding through the water like they pay property taxes there, birds chirping, flowers everywhere, waterfalls and water features--it's like stress gets checked at the front gate with your $12 admission fee. And let's not overlook the fact that there were food trucks... and one of them was selling cocktails. Suddenly being outside didn't seem so unreasonable anymore. What surprised me most was how peaceful the entire experience felt. It genuinely pulls you away from the noise of everyday life and drops you into this quiet little zen mode you didn't know you needed. Also, if you're planning a wedding or outdoor event, this place is loaded with gorgeous spots that look like they came straight out of a magazine. Seriously, every few steps felt like another "this would be an amazing wedding photo" moment. When the weather cooperates, this place is hard to beat as a happy place. Even for people like me who normally consider "the outdoors" a temporary inconvenience.

    The Memphis Botanic Garden is straight-up magic wrapped in flowers…read more From the moment you walk in, it feels like you've stepped into a peaceful, picture-perfect dream. Every path leads to something new--vibrant blooms, hidden corners, and stunning landscapes that make you stop and go "okay wow..." at least 20 times. Whether you're wandering through the themed gardens, snapping aesthetic pics, or just soaking in the calm, it's the ultimate reset button from real life. And let's talk about the vibes--immaculate. It's romantic, relaxing, and somehow inspiring all at once. One minute you're strolling through gorgeous greenery, the next you're planning your entire future garden like you suddenly have landscaping skills Perfect for a chill day, a cute date, or just getting lost in something beautiful, the Memphis Botanic Garden is a must-visit gem. 10/10--nature really showed off here

    Photos
    Memphis Botanic Garden - Salmon colored rose

    Salmon colored rose

    Memphis Botanic Garden - Beautiful garden

    Beautiful garden

    Memphis Botanic Garden - Purple flower

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    Purple flower

    Peabody Park

    Peabody Park

    4.0(7 reviews)
    4.2 miMidtown

    I'm starting to become a fan of Memphis' smaller green spaces. There are small parks and massive…read moremedians scattered around the city that are usually less crowded than the large parks. That's why I love Peabody Park in midtown. It's smaller and less crowded than nearby Overton Park, and it's got some unique features. There are two large metal sculptures by local artist Yvonne Bobo, a pavillion, and a large playground. But the best thing about Peabody Park is the splash park. During the summer, it's packed with kids trying to cool off in the intermittent spray from fountains, geysers, misters and rainfalls. The park is also home to the Raymond Skinner Center, a community recreation center that has special resources for people with mental and physical disabilities. The splash park at Peabody Park is free and open daily during the summer.

    Peabody Park is my favorite park in midtown. There are multiple slides, swings (including infant…read moreswings), monkey bars, fun little tunnels and playground games for the kids. There's also a little pavilion near the playground and a larger one off to the side near the splash park. During the summer, our girls love to don their bathing suits and run around in the motion controlled splash park sprinklers. There are smaller ones for the little kiddies and larger splashes for the fearless older kids. The equipment is all in good shape, and I never worry about my kids getting hurt. When we go out for family day, this is one of our favorite stops.

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    Peabody Park - Sprayground at Peabody Park

    Sprayground at Peabody Park

    Peabody Park
    Peabody Park

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    Mud Island Park

    Mud Island Park

    3.4(73 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown

    Mud Island Park in Memphis--sounds like a place where you'd expect to get your shoes stuck and your…read moreclothes ruined. Spoiler alert: no mud, just a whole lot of chill vibes and some seriously underrated views of the Mississippi River. You hop on the monorail, which feels like a low-key retro space mission, and zoom over the water with the Memphis skyline photobombing every shot. The Riverwalk--this giant scale model of the Mississippi--is like geography class got cool and decided to throw a party. Walking the entire river in flip-flops while dodging kids launching into the splash fountains? Perfect way to get your steps in and your funny stories ready. Bonus points for the picnic spots, perfect for pretending you're fancy while eating a sandwich you packed in your car. If you're in Memphis and want a little riverfront chill without the mud, Mud Island's your spot. Five stars and zero mud in sight!

    Quality/Quantity - Memphis TN's welcome center suggested we walk over here and check it out…read more I bet in its heyday, this place was a great retreat from the "city." This place can use some love, but we still had a good time and enjoyed it. The tram was also out of order, but it was fun walking across the bridge. Atmosphere - An island off of Memphis. Most of this island needs love. Looked abandoned for a long time. Open 7 days a week from 7am to 5pm. Easy walk from the welcome center. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - If the city, county, and state were to invest a little $$ here, I can see how this could easily be 5 stars.

    Photos
    Mud Island Park
    Mud Island Park - 10/25/24 FYI.

    10/25/24 FYI.

    Mud Island Park

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    Nashoba Park

    Nashoba Park

    4.5(2 reviews)
    14.9 mi

    I really like this park. It is very peaceful and soothing. It offers some very nice paved trails,…read moresome of which run along a small lake (Nasoba Lake) and another section runs along the Wolf River. You will find a few picturesque bridges along the way and the trails are well defined and easy to navigate. This park is linked to the Germantown Greenway so, you can run/hike/bike here for miles. It is a beautiful park. The park has an adequate amount of spots to park in in its free private lot. You will find picnic tables and benches along the section of the park that runs along the lake, a very select few of which have a small shelter over them. I cannot confirm or deny if the lake is stocked or not, but there were a lot of people fishing there during my visit. One negative of the park, that it is out of its control is that certain of it areas are prone to flooding after a rain. It is nothing too bad though. This park is well maintained and is a diamond in the rough. I really enjoyed it. It lacks many of the amenities that I look for in a park, nut I took it for what it was, a nature trail park, and found enjoyment in that. It does not have any playgrounds and I could not find any restrooms. There aren't any other recreation activities either such as tennis, basketball or green space, but this park works and I highly recommend checking it out if you are looking for a nice place to hike or relax on a small lake.

    Terrific pick park for walking and running. But the path needs to be wider to better accommodate…read morebicycles . Has ample parking and is easy to find. Luv it has lots of shade on the trail. For us solo walkers I prefer the late afternoon where I don't feel so alone. Thxs NP!

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    Nashoba Park
    Nashoba Park
    Nashoba Park

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    Riverdale Park

    Riverdale Park

    5.0(2 reviews)
    14.2 mi

    This is an awesome park. It spans 20 acres and has a little bit of everything. They have a decent…read morebaseball/softball field with dugouts and a scoreboard. There is also a nice set of lighted tennis courts at this park, a shelter with picnic tables and built-in restrooms, a roller hockey court, tons of green space, and two play grounds. The older and smaller playground is located by the picnic shelter. It is on a bed of wood chips and has a medium sized jungle gym with a couple of slides and a rock climbing wall. Thee is also a rocking animal and a bank of traditional swings there too. On the area's perimeter they have placed a couple of benches to sit and watch your littles play. The bigger playground is much newer, on artificial grass, and has a treehouse kind of vibe. It is called Everybody's Tree House and is an inclusive area that consists of a large jungle gym with bridges and slides. The other equipment includes monkey rings, a sit and spin, a climbing wall, climbing nets, some hold and spins, and a sway fun glider. Of course there are places for caregiver to sit while their littles play. It is a very nice area. The park is also home to a large pergola with mushroom style table and chairs. It is is little weathered but still serviceable. You will see a nice field with artificial turf near the big playground. It is a very nice field, but I am unsure if it is actually part of the park. The park has a decent amount of spots available along the main road that it is off of. There is also some parking available on the opposite side. I really like this park. iT is well maintained and has a lot to offer. You could easily spend a half day or more here.

    Went today on my birthday 5/21/2017 and it was very pleasant. Just me, my thoughts and other…read morevisitors. Just plain great.

    Photos
    Riverdale Park
    Riverdale Park
    Riverdale Park

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    Tom Lee Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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