$16.2 million awarded to restore Mississippi River floodplains near downtown Memphis via Ducks Unlimited Park
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – April 11, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $16,155,550 to the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, to restore hundreds of acres of Mississippi River floodplain with wetlands and riparian forest at Ducks Unlimited Park at Big River Crossing. The park is a 1,500-acre project led by Big River Park Conservancy, TennGreen Land Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited (DU). TennGreen, the oldest accredited land conservation organization that serves all of Tennessee, jump-started this initiative and secured the initial parcels for the future park.
The park, accessible from Downtown Memphis via Big River Crossing, currently holds a 7-mile paved trail loop and a half-mile out-and-back trail. It also connects to the Big River Levee Trail System, which includes more than 110 miles of riverside trails atop the Mississippi River’s levee system.
The funding is to the City of West Memphis through DOT’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) program.
Ducks Unlimited Park to restore critical wetlands via natural infrastructure
In recent years, the increasing severity and frequency of flooding have threatened important bridges and other infrastructure while causing significant floodplain degradation. This project represents a unique, collaborative opportunity to restore resilience to the area between Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas, using natural infrastructure. The project will restore functional bottomland hardwood wetlands, which are paramount to the area’s wildlife, water quality, and healthy ecosystems.
“We are honored to be selected for this extraordinarily competitive grant for this collaborative project that will protect, restore, and enhance the incredible biodiversity found in this majestic river. This will also provide future residents of the MidSouth a remarkable park where people gather, make memories, and enhance their wellbeing forever,” remarked Alice Hudson Pell, Executive Director, TennGreen Land Conservancy
“Today, thanks to this federal investment, we can fulfill the promise of Big River Crossing by improving our infrastructure and activating a riverfront with not only recreation but also conservation,” said Dow McVean, President of Big River Park Conservancy. “Ducks Unlimited Park will be a cutting-edge example of the intersection of ecotourism, economic development, and environmental protection.”
When completed, the restored wetlands will strengthen the floodplain and help deter a new chute of the Mississippi River from forming through the area, which would be catastrophic to critical surface transportation systems.
‘This is a big win for our community, environment, and Ducks Unlimited Park at Big River Crossing’
“This is a big win for our community, environment, and Ducks Unlimited Park at Big River Crossing,” said West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon. “Thanks to the Department of Transportation’s PROTECT program, this project will create a destination space for outdoor enthusiasts and our families to play, learn, and grow together. Our partnership with Ducks Unlimited, Big River Park Conservancy, and other key stakeholders showcases what we can do when we come together for the greater good of our communities and our planet. It’s a proud moment for all of us in West Memphis and our entire region.”
“DU is proud to call Memphis home, and our staff live, work, and play on both sides of the Mississippi River,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “Ducks Unlimited Park at Big River Crossing not only supports the historic floodplain, it supports our people and our communities in both states. This investment will help DU, Big River Park Conservancy, and our partners to restore wetlands and wildlife habitat using natural infrastructure that improves water quality, provides outdoor recreation opportunities, and makes our communities more flood resilient.”
DU, TennGreen, and Big River Park Conservancy would also like to recognize the many individuals, organizations, and entities that have supported the grant application for this project, including:
Sen. Boozman (AR), Sen. Cotton (AR), Rep. Crawford (AR), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN), Rep. Kustoff (TN), Arkansas Gov. Huckabee Sanders, State Sen. Tucker (AR), State Rep. Nicks (AR), State Rep. Ferguson (AR), State Sen. Murdock (AR), State Rep. Moody (TN), State Rep. Leatherwood (TN), State Sen. Rose (TN), Memphis Mayor Strickland, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, Memphis City Councilmember Ford Canale, Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, Arkansas State University, USACE, Union Pacific, City of Lakeland TN, Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee, Big River Park Conservancy, Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club, Greater Memphis Chamber.
In addition: Crittenden County, Start2Finish Event Management, West Memphis School District, Memphis Tourism, Memphis and Shelby County TN Division of Planning and Development, Town of Atoka, Town of Collierville, AutoZone, FedEx, Regional One Health, Memphis Runners Track Club, Downtown Memphis Commission, The Armstrong Company, Olive Branch, St Francis Levee District, City of Southaven, West Memphis Chamber of Commerce, City of Marion, City of Hernando, Major Taylor Memphis, University of Memphis, Former State Sen. Ingram, Arkansas Department of Transportation, Sheriff Bonner, Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Grant: FY22/23 Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program
Project: Mississippi River Bridges: Resilience of Multimodal Infrastructure through Floodplain Restoration and Protection
Locality: West Memphis, AR
Applicant: West Memphis, City of
Grant Amount: $16,155,550
About our organizations:
TennGreen Land Conservancy is Tennessee’s oldest accredited statewide land conservancy. Our mission is to conserve land where people and nature can thrive. We envision large, connected, natural areas that support diversity of life, inspire the appreciation of nature, and spark action to protect the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the land that sustains us all. Learn more here.
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 18 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at ducks.org.
Big River Park Conservancy is a 501(c)3 committed to ensuring a sustainable future for the Mississippi River wetlands and serving the ever-growing recreational and outdoor needs of the region. Its collection of projects activate and celebrate the Mississippi River and its surrounding landscape, including the Big River Crossing, an active biking and pedestrian bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Tennessee and Arkansas, and the Big River Trail System, a mixed-use trail network spanning over 110 miles with 7 miles of established trails in Big River Park.
Media Contact:
Parker Williams
(202) 621-1646
pwilliams@ducks.org