Projects

Rising Waters

The Mississippi River’s 48-foot crest in spring 2011 in Memphis would be second to only the great flood of 1937. The river’s gradual rise in Memphis changed the city’s riverfront in dramatic ways, causing floods along five tributaries and in West Memphis where levee pumps failed. Authorities urged thousands to evacuate their homes and businesses.

Heart of the Park

When Shelby Farms, one of the largest urban parks in the United States, unveiled a $65 million ‘heart of the park’ project that would literally remake the landscape, The Commercial Appeal decided to take a snapshot of the existing park, a venture into the natural beauty mixed with its varied uses in the community. The park's rather sudden blooming is all the more dramatic, given how it languished for decades.

Shooting Sparks Riot

Shelby County Sheriffs Deputies braced against the crowd under an onslaught of stones as protesters rioted following the officer involved shooting death of Brandon Webber on June 12, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. Dozens of angry protesters clashed with authorities until police forces broke the mob up with tear gas. In the wake of the violence, family members gathered to mourn the 21-year-old and reflect on the violence that ensued.