New playground planned for Bartlett’s Dixon-Brewer Park

By Michael Waddell – Daily Memphian

August 14, 2024

A new playground is expected to open at Dixon-Brewer Park in Bartlett Station by the end of the year as the city begins implementing its new recreation plan.

The project is part of a broader upgrade to the 1.7-acre park and is one of the first major steps in the city’s 10-year parks master plan approved earlier this year.

On Aug. 13, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the purchase of a Little Tikes Commercial Playground system, along with removal and disposal of existing equipment, for $74,412.

The new playground will replace a roughly 25-year-old structure. According to parks and recreation director Paul Wright, the update will create a more inclusive and accessible play space. A ramp system will allow children with mobility challenges to access the equipment, and musical elements will support sensory engagement.

Additional improvements at the park include replacing the restroom building, reshaping pathways to meet ADA standards, and resurfacing the parking lot on Woodlawn Street with added accessible spaces.

The city received $600,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, administered through Shelby County, to support the renovation.

Officials noted the park is heavily used and that the improvements will make it accessible to more residents. Construction may cause temporary inconvenience, but city leaders emphasized the long-term benefits.

Work is pending utility transfers by Memphis Light, Gas and Water near the historic Gotten House. Once complete, demolition and construction will proceed, with completion expected by the end of November.

Separately, the city has been approved for a $750,000 matching grant from the State of Tennessee to renovate Shadowlawn Park, including a new playground. That project is expected to begin in the spring.