How did we get from this

to this?

Maybe it was Covid, or lots of talk about connected parks along the riverfront, or the focus on Tom Lee Park, or oh so many things that distracted Memphians and left us unaware of what was actually happening.

Here's how Studio Gang envisioned the Public Promenade being updated as a Civic Terrace.

• The parking garage would go and be replaced by a green bluff and terrace with sculpture and an open pavilion.

• Views would be opened up to reconnect the City to the River

• A bridge would be built over Monroe to continue the Bluffwalk to the Cossitt Library .

• A Cultural Amenity that looked like it could be a small treasure (maybe a reuse of Aydelott's fire station) was planned

• A connection to and continuation of the Bluffwalk at Union was included.

The plan was commissioned by the Mayor's Riverfront Task Force and Memphis River Parks Partnership (aka Riverfront Development Corporation) with financial support from the Hyde Family and Kresge Foundations.

It wasn't long before it was announced that Brooks museum wanted to be the Cultural Amenity, but who would have guessed that "Brooks on the Bluff" would balloon to dwarf its neighbors, cover the whole block, destroy the Bluff, shut-off downtown from the River, fail to include a Bluffwalk, and so clearly violate the Public Promenade easement on the property.