MEMPHIS, TN – This Labor Day weekend you won't be able to use the boat ramp at Mud Island Park, unless you have a bit of power and influence. That's because the public boat ramp, paid for with public money, isn't public at all.
For the last several years, the only people allowed to use the ramp have been people hand-picked by the Riverfront Development Corporation, the group that runs Mud Island River Park.
“It's a great boat ramp," says boater Jim Hamilton. "It's very safe for the general public."
When Hamilton tried to put his fishing boat in the water using the boat ramp, he was told he couldn't.
“It is wrong,” he tells abc24.com. “State and federal money was used to build that. It is all taxpayer money. It was built for the enjoyment of everyone."
When Hamilton pressed for more information, he got a letter from Riverfront Development Corporation President Benny Lendermon.
The letter said only government agencies, along with a select group of people, can use the ramp. They include: Riverfront Development board members, professional angler Bill Nelson, a Mississippi River catfish guide, a canoe guide and those working on the Beale Street Landing project.
“That is illegal," says Hamilton. "You can’t discriminate against everyone. If no one can use it, ok. But when you only let your friends use a $5 million boat ramp, I’ve never heard of that."
In the letter, Lendermon says the boat ramp is closed to the public because it causes traffic problems when there are concerts at the amphitheater.
“It doesn’t make any sense," says Virginia McLean with Friends of Our Riverfront. "Why wouldn't they want people down there using it?”
The public used to be able to use the ramp. McLean doesn't understand why it was closed in the first place.
“What's the reason behind this?" she asks. "If it is a public facility, we want the people to use the waterfront. It's our greatest asset."
Lendermon was not available for an interview with abc24.com. An RDC spokesperson says in the past few weeks the policy changed. The public can now use the ramp if they fill out an application and pay a $150 annual fee.
When abc24.com asked for an application, no one at the RDC could provide one.
