An eight-member panel of city planning professionals from the Urban Land Institute was charged with a five-day task of reviewing the history of the Memphis Fairgrounds and interviewing stakeholders before considering issues, analyzing data and writing a conceptual master plan for future development.
Tom Murphy, a former mayor who is known for helping revitalize the city of Pittsburgh, said its time to start thinking about redeveloping the Memphis Fairgrounds as a whole.
The panel presented a $184 million plan consisting of a mix of destinations meant to appeal to both tourists, to generate tax revenue for a Tourism Development Zone, and locals alike.
Recommendations:
- $37.5 million Multipurpose indoor sports facility
- $20 million Tiger Lane II
- $5 million Public park with lake
- $7 million Surf park
- $22 million Coliseum stage
- $3 million Creative arts building
- $3.5 million Streetscape
- $8 million Public improvements
- $9 million Stadium phase III
- $3 million 15,000 square feet of retail
- $21 million Improvements to Cooper Avenue/Memphis Zoo
- $5 million Community investment
The Institute recommends dedicating the 10-acre Fairgrounds Youth Athletic Fields, west of CMOM, for a privately developed water park similar to Six Flags.