Breaking new ground along the storied banks of the Mississippi River, the Memphis River Parks Partnership (MRPP) has laid the first stone of what is set to become a premier bird-watching and scenic lookout point. The Memphis Flyway, a project greenlit at a cool $10.4 million, promises an enhanced interface between humans and the natural flyways used by our feathered friends, FOX13 Memphis reports.
Peering out 218 feet over the river, this observation deck is not just a testament to human engineering but also a salute to the biodiversity it aims to showcase. Erected between the 1-55 Bridge and the I-40 Bridge, the deck promises free ADA-accessible views to more than a million anticipated annual visitors. Yet, it's not only for bird enthusiasts that this deck stands—I'm looking at the butterflies too, specifically the at-risk Monarch, which MRPP says will benefit from conserved habitats below the structure, as indicated by WREG.
The Flyway's design comes courtesy of Studio Gang and Scape, the brains behind the recently opened Tom Lee Park, another MRPP project that's already funneling hordes to the riverfront. Structurally, the deck itself is more than an engineering feat; it's a marvel with a curving main span and an intricately designed triangular cross-section. The boardwalk will extend along a direction aligning with the 140-degree to 320-degree, measured relative to true north, EIN Newswire detailed.
With a nod from funders including the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund and an anonymous donor, MRPP underscores that this venture is more than just a pit-stop. It's a genuine plunge into the culture, history, and ecology that embodies Memphis' connection with the mighty Mississippi. For a city "founded in 1819 because of the fertile land’s location on the Mississippi River," the addition of the Memphis Flyway on the riverfront is seen as a boon for attracting new crowds to Memphis, drawing on the city's historical legacy and natural charm, explains EIN Newswire.
Projected to open its expansive views in 2026, the Memphis Flyway stands as a future milestone in the city's riverfront. It's not merely an observation deck, but an intersection of community, conservation, and curiosity, promising to offer a fresh perspective on the Mississippi River and its inhabitants to visitors and locals alike. For a city leveraged on the transformative power of its riverfront, the Flyway offers a rare opportunity to enhance that transformation tangibly, according to the groundwork laid by both history and the forward-looking MRPP.
