October 8, 2025—The City of Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) applied to the UrbanArt Commission’s (UAC) Neighborhood Art Initiative on behalf of the Bearwater & Bickford Neighborhoods for the creation of a mural inside the Bearwater Greenline tunnel. The mural will stretch the 125-foot length pedestrian tunnel that runs below Waterworks Ave. This opportunity empowers a historically underserved community by enabling community organizations, stakeholders, and residents to incorporate public art into ongoing initiatives.

The Bearwater Greenline, which opened in 2023, is a former railroad that connects Washington Park to Front Street. The Uptown Community Plan identified the development of this trail as key to implementing the vision for Washington Park as a vibrant neighborhood anchor, featuring new housing options and quality greenspace amenities.

“Since the planning stages of this project, incorporating public art into this Greenline has been the intention.” said Project Manager Emma Turri. “We are grateful for all the UAC’s public art initiatives and look forward to working alongside the Bearwater and Bickford communities to bring an artist’s creative vision to life in this mural.”

The UAC has issued a request for qualifications for interested artists. You can view the application at https://uacmem.org/opportunities/bearwater.

About the CRA
The CRA was established to be a catalyst for the restoration of communities through removing blight and providing affordable housing. The CRA serves as a joint agency of Shelby County and the City of Memphis and was set up as an organization in 2017. Our community-based approach to the redevelopment of neighborhoods needing reinvestment leverages Tax Increment Financing (TIF), grants, and partnerships, as important and strategic tools for implementing the goals of the agency. We envision every neighborhood in the City of Memphis and Shelby County providing its residents with a healthy and safe environment, economic opportunity, affordable housing, and excellent quality of life.

UrbanArt Commission
The UrbanArt Commission (UAC) is a non-profit organization committed to creating opportunities for artists and neighborhoods to connect and shape spaces through public art.