Hoping to combat the city's dismal rankings in obesity, public and private partners launched the RiverFit pop-up fitness park along the Mississippi River in September.
"Earlier this month, Memphis opened 'RiverFit', a pop-up fitness area and trail along the Mississippi River bank," reports Abby Martin. "The project’s public and private-sector partners hope the temporary installation will catalyze health-focused park efforts in Memphis, a city routinely counted among the most obese in the country."
Some of the details of RiverFit:
- "Sponsored by the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, RiverFit was developed in partnership with the non-profit Riverfront Development Corporation and the City of Memphis."
- "The Grizzlies Riverfront Fitness Trail + Pop-Up Park, as the project is officially known, stretches one mile along the western edge of Tom Lee Park in downtown Memphis. The revamped green space features six workout stations, two regulation-size sand volleyball courts, and a 6-on-6 soccer field."
RiverFit will remain in place until November, but "backers hope this project will start a conversation about more permanent fitness equipment options for other parks across Memphis."
FULL STORY: RiverFit: Memphis Park Gets a Big Boost

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service