Trust for Public Land Celebrates $3,339,000 Grant to the City of Memphis to Improve Gooch Park

Trust for Public Land (TPL) celebrates the announcement of the National Park Service’s $3,339,000 investment in Gooch Park through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program.

Through the ORLP program, the National Park Service (NPS) awarded $254.68 million to 54 communities to invest in locally led park projects across 24 states. This is the largest-ever investment in the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program. This year, Memphis is the only city in the State of Tennessee to receive an ORLP grant award.

In December 2023, TPL launched a new technical assistance program to support eligible applicants in their pursuit of ORLP grants. TPL is proud to support the City of Memphis’ transformation of Gooch Park into a vibrant community space.

Memphis Parks will use the money to improve Gooch Park’s walking trail, athletic field and lighting, playground, pool renovations, and erosion control. The improvements were based on community engagement efforts with residents, including the HUG Park Friends group.

“Quality, vibrant neighborhood parks make a city a place where people want to live, work, raise families and call home,” said Nick Walker, Director, Memphis Parks. “These types of investments into the lifeblood of Memphis Parks help us continue to be the center of the communities that we serve. We are so grateful to the National Park Service, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Trust for Public Land’s technical assistance team in making this dream a reality for Memphis.”

“TPL is thrilled to see Gooch Park receive funding from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership to revitalize the space, a place with a rich history and deep cultural significance for the Memphis community,” said Noel Durant, Associate Vice President and Tennessee State Director for Trust for Public Land. ” Memphis Parks along with the wonderful Jo Ann and team at HUG Park Friends are setting an example of community centered park improvements in Tennessee. This park stands as a testament to the legacy of Black community leadership for park access, and with this funding, this history can be honored by creating an inclusive and welcoming space where future generations can gather, play, and connect with the outdoors.”

“Equitable access to the outdoors helps people lead healthier, happier, more prosperous lives. Trust for Public Land is grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s support for locally led park projects in nature-deprived communities through the America the Beautiful and Justice40 Initiatives” said Bill Lee, SVP of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations at TPL. “We are excited to see today’s announcement that the Department of Interior will invest a record-setting $254.68 million for this effort through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program. Today’s announcement highlights the pressing need for the Senate to pass the Outdoors for All Act, which will expand and codify ORLP, enabling more communities to take part in the program and build more quality parks.”

Over 1 in 3 people in the United States, or 100 million people, including 28 million children, do not have access to a park within a 10-minute walk of home. TPL’s mission is to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. The organization partners with people in communities across the country to plan their conservation priorities, help fund their visions, protect the lands and waters they value, and create the parks and trails they need to thrive. This work results in cleaner air and water; healthier, more equitable communities; more culturally relevant public places; connected neighborhoods, and a more resilient and livable environment for people everywhere. TPL looks forward to continuing to support communities in accessing this critical federal funding to create equitable access to parks and green spaces nationwide when Round 8 of the ORLP program is announced this fall.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected 4 million acres of public land; created 5,420 parks, trails, 200+ Community Schoolyards® projects, and iconic outdoor places; raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands; and brought parks and trails to within a 10-minute walk of home for nearly 9.7 million people. To learn more, visit tpl.org.