Introducing Visitors to the History of the Mississippi River

The Tunica Riverpark is located on a 170-acre site on the banks of the Mississippi River and creates an experience that gives visitors a better understanding of the Mississippi River and its history. The park includes a harbor and docking facility, visitor’s center, museum and aquariums, boat launching ramp, ecological park, and nature trails. The museum and ecopark offer a unique historical experience for visitors wanting to see the “Mighty Mississippi” up close and to understand the role the river has played in the nation’s heritage. The museum focuses on the legend and life of the Mississippi River, from the early explorers such as Hernando de Soto and Robert LaSalle to the modern-day engineers who designed management systems that tamed the river. The museum mixes artifacts and high-tech multi-media to tell the river's story and includes four large aquariums full of native aquatic life.

Tetra Tech was responsible for site selection evaluations, programming, establishing project budgets, special wetland and navigational permitting, design, construction administration, and field supervision and support for the Tunica Riverpark. Special design considerations and challenges included establishment of flood levels, statistical evaluation of historical river data, design of site elements to resist flood damage, design of a docking facility to accommodate 50-foot river fluctuations while maintaining Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, bank stabilization and erosion protection, and wetland mitigation. Tetra Tech’s work with the Memphis Corps of Engineers included section 404 permitting and special navigational permits.

The docking facility is a 300-foot long floating dock with an elevated superstructure designed to accommodate large river vessels such as the 500-foot American Queen, 150-foot excursion boats, and smaller pleasure craft. The dock is connected to the shore by a 200-foot arch-truss gangway designed to accommodate the extreme river fluctuations.

The building boasts a unique signatur entry feature requiring innovative structural design. Tetra Tech was responsible for all structural, electrical, and mechanical aspects of the building. The building design includes promenades and a 48-foot elevated platform from which visitors can enjoy the park and the Mississippi River.

Highlight:
Tunica Riverpark was the Honor Award winner for Structural Engineering in the 2005 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards, as well as a Merit Award winner in the 2004 national "Innovative Design and Excellence in Architecture Using Steel" (IDEAS) Awards program.