MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Consider for a moment this appealing image: a giant, multi-colored Ferris wheel churning on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis with a brightly lit I-40 bridge in the background. Sounds enticing, right? Well, it could become a reality under plans the city administration announced Monday at city hall.
The bulk of the work would involve expanding the dock at Beale Street Landing, adding another dock at the Mud Island peninsula north of downtown, and damming up Wolf River Harbor to create a recreational lake.
All of it will cost millions, and the city will be looking to state government and its billions in surplus dollars for financial support. Mayor Jim Strickland believes now is the time to make what he’s calling the big ask to the state to help enhance our riverfront, which – let’s face it – has always been underutilized.
Whether the state will look kindly on the city’s request is another story. Lawmakers in other parts of Tennessee often view Memphis with disdain. And with Memphian Lang Wiseman no longer serving as deputy governor in the Bill Lee administration, the city has one less ally in Nashville.
Still, you have to admire the vision put forth by the city to finally make substantial changes to beautify our riverfront – and make it more user friendly. So keep that image of a Ferris wheel churning in your head. Because hopefully, it will happen.