A team of Rhodes College students from the Research for Action Lab, over the course of 18 months, collaborated with local organizations Play Where You Stay, the Heights CDC, and Dragonfly Studio to conduct a community needs assessment and create a revitalization blueprint for Treadwell Park in the Highland Heights neighborhood in Memphis. The team focused on identifying community priorities, understanding park usage, and addressing environmental challenges.
The goal was to make the park safer and more welcoming for residents of the neighborhood and for all Memphians seeking an accessible green space for recreational activities.
Rhodes alum Mischa White ’25, now a research strategist at Dragonfly Studio, led the student team: Olivia Cato, Segni Eba Deressa, Fayadh Chowdhury, Chi Vu Phuong Nguyen, Asher Drummond, Izabella Blancaneaux, Sophia Mohamed, and Alex Torres. Dr. Peter Hossler, associate professor and chair of urban studies at Rhodes, is director of the Research for Action Lab.
Community engagement and park observations began in October 2024 and continued through April 2026. This process involved eight focus groups, four interviews, four outreach events, and two surveys.
The final plan presented recommendations for improvements such as fencing, water access, signage, field markings, and swings, along with cost estimates and vendor quotes. The Rhodes students recently presented their findings at a neighborhood event that drew about 500 attendees.
This initiative was supported in part by the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development and Rhodes’ Lynne & Henry Turley Memphis Center for Community Engagement.