Chandler takes helm of riverfront, aims to draw more visitors to Downtown parks
Paul Chandler remembers hearing “With or Without You” from U2’s Joshua Tree album for the first time at Martyrs Park on Downtown’s riverfront.
“As a Memphian and as a young person, Martyrs Park is where we would go in high school and get a blanket and just hang out and watch the boats go by,” Chandler said.
While taking a tour of Memphis River Parks after accepting its leading role, the times he had spent at the park came back to him.
“Hearing certain songs and albums in that park, that sparked some incredible memories for me,” Chandler said. “I can see myself in that park as a teenager.”
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Riverfront gateway to Memphis
Chandler produced events at Tom Lee Park and Mud Island in his previous role as a founding partner at entertainment producer Resource Entertainment Group. And he lived Downtown during his first stint at GPAC. His apartment even overlooked the Mississippi River.
But in his time there, he only visited Tom Lee Park for three events a year: Memphis in May’s Sunset Symphony, the Beale Street Music Festival, and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
He is thrilled that MRPP’s work has filled its parks with people throughout the year. He sees the riverfront serving as an entryway to Downtown Memphis and a major asset to the city.
Under Coletta, the organization raised $61 million to totally redesign Tom Lee Park, which officially reopened in September 2023.
The redesign has opened doors for year-round programming, including a new annual music festival, RiverBeat Music Festival, and barbecue contest, SmokeSlam. Also, the new Flyway observation deck is set to open in 2026.