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This week, Memphis shared exciting news. Together with the Women’s Tennis Association we announced that professional tennis is returning to our city with the Memphis Classic, which will be played at the City’s Leftwich Tennis Center.
That moment was made possible because Memphis invested in a facility that serves as the University of Memphis’ home courts and a world-class public asset.
Just a few years ago, the City partnered with the University of Memphis, Tennis Memphis, and private supporters to transform Leftwich into one of the country's premier public tennis facilities. A $32 million investment created a 36-court complex designed to host national and international competition.
Now that investment is opening new doors.
The Memphis Classic will bring professional athletes, fans, and visitors from across the country to our city. It will support local hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. And perhaps most importantly, it will inspire young athletes across Memphis who will see world-class competition right here at home.
 Leftwich is a powerful reminder that investment creates opportunity.
We see that same story playing out across so many of our City of Memphis assets.
At Tom Lee Park, an $80 million transformation of our riverfront has created a gathering place for the entire community. Since reopening in 2023, the park has welcomed more than 2.4 million visitors. Signature events like Riverbeat, along with free fitness classes and hands-on science play for kids, bring thousands of people to the riverfront. And the experience will grow even more when the Memphis Flyway observation deck opens in early summer 2026, giving visitors a new way to experience the Mississippi River and one of the most important migratory bird corridors in North America.
At the Memphis Sports and Events Center, a $60 million investment has created a major hub for youth sports tournaments and national competitions. These events bring athletes and families from across the region and across the country, filling hotel rooms, supporting restaurants, and generating economic activity for Memphis.
 And in neighborhoods across the city, our libraries are becoming vibrant community hubs. At the Orange Mound Library, more than 53,000 visitors have come through the doors since opening. The space hosts community meetings, youth programs, lectures on the history of Orange Mound, and partnerships with local organizations that serve residents every day. From school supply giveaways to neighborhood gatherings and educational programming, the library has become a place where the community comes together.
Each of these investments reflects the same belief.
When we invest in places that bring people together, we strengthen neighborhoods, create new opportunities, and grow our local economy.
Memphis is rising, and together we are building opportunity for the future.
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