What would it take to reopen Mud Island Amphitheater? Memphis, parks partnership want to find out

The City of Memphis and the Memphis River Parks Partnership are requesting a new feasibility study that would evaluate the existing usage potential and repair needs for the Mud Island Amphitheater. The concert venue has sat dormant since a stretch of summer concerts in 2018.

The feasibility study is being requested for promoters interested in the usage of the venue, said Memphis Parks Director Nick Walker. Art Davis with the Memphis River Parks Partnership said there is a need for updated information about the concert venue; different event promoters have different questions from different usage perspectives, Davis said.

"Legally, the best thing to do is to provide a study and report that comes from the perspective of what is important to the public and to the amphitheater, and not one particular promoter," Davis said.

The study price tag is an estimated $180,000; the implementation of the study would be overseen by MRPP. The study was discussed during a Memphis City Council committee meeting Tuesday morning.

Council members agreed the vacant state of the amphitheater is a pressing need before pivoting to what it would look like for the city's park division, which is a separate entity from MRPP, to operate and oversee the amphitheater.

MRPP has about nine years left on its contract with the city to oversee the Downtown park assets. Walker said the discussion and possibility of the city parks department taking back management of Mud Island, "has not been on his radar."

Previously: What’s the future of Mud Island? Consultant says ‘real, direct honesty’ needed

While council members agreed the discussion should move forward, a couple questioned the results of a previous 2022 feasibility study of the park. Councilwoman Jerri Green asked that there first be a presentation of the previous feasibility study of the entire park, one that she said cost $75,000.

"I would like to see it," Green said, "and see if it already answers questions we're trying to ask for $180,000."

Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at micaela.watts@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mud Island Amphitheater: What would it take to reopen the venue?