What’s happening: North Memphis’ Gooch Park has made a lot of history over the years, including it being one of the city’s first parks designated for Black Memphians and the site of Memphis’ first Black bicycle rodeo. Now the 10-acre park is making history for another reason, having been included in a group of 54 projects in 24 states that will receive a share of $254.68 million in grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) – the single largest grant investment in the federal program’s 10-year history.

What it is: Memphis Parks has been awarded a $3,339,000 ORLP grant, funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and managed by the National Park Service (NPS). Memphis Parks will use the grant to improve several of Gooch Park’s amenities, including upgrades and renovations to the park’s walking trail, athletic field, playground, and pool. Erosion control efforts will also be made.

Public input: Those improvements planned were selected based on community engagement efforts with area residents. That includes the HUG Park Friends group, which advocates for the improvement and enjoyment of Hollywood, University, and Gooch parks.

Why it’s important: “Quality, vibrant neighborhood parks make a city where people want to live, work, raise families, and call home. These investments into the lifeblood of Memphis Parks help us continue to be the center of our communities,” reads a statement from Nick Walker, Memphis Parks Director. “We are so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to begin this transformative project!”

Looking ahead: It’s expected that construction on Gooch Park improvements will begin in the spring of 2026.

Gooch Park is located at 1974 Hunter Ave. in Memphis.