Memphis City Beautiful Commission
The Memphis City Beautiful Commission, formed in 1930, is the oldest beautification commission in the United States. In 1930, our
first job was to transform the then dismal and heavily trashed riverfront into a showplace for which Memphians could be proud.
Five years later, in 1935, Riverside Drive was opened, and Memphis had a beautiful new "front door".
The goal of Memphis City Beautiful is to keep Memphis a beautiful, healthy and safe place to live. Memphis City Beautiful, through
public education, programs and services, works to engage individuals to take a greater responsibility for improving their community
environments. We strive to change behaviors and improve communities by focusing on Litter Prevention and Beautification programs
with an additional emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.
Memphis City Beautiful has been the local, award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) since 1978. Keep America
Beautiful charges its affiliates across the nation to reduce litter, improve waste handling practices, educate the public about
solid waste issues and general awareness of public lands stewardship. Their web site is: http://www.kab.org
The Memphis City Beautiful office is housed in the historic Massey-Schaeffer House located at 664 Adams Avenue in Victorian
Village. The residence was built between October 1847 and May 1849. It was purchased by the City of Memphis in 1988.
The 35 member Board of Commissioners is appointed by the Mayor of Memphis and approved by the City Council. The Commissioners
develop and implement our programs by building partnerships with schools, businesses, neighborhood associations, civic groups,
youth organizations and government agencies. The Commissioner' terms are for two years.
The Board of Commissioners is a working group of volunteers who are required to participate in one of four standing committees, as
well as participate in special projects throughout the year. The Commission meets the first Tuesday of every month.
Friends of City Beautiful, Inc., is the non-profit fundraising arm of City Beautiful whose purpose is to support the Memphis City
Beautiful Commission in achieving its goals, purposes and objectives. Friends focus is in the areas of membership recruitment,
grant writing and fundraising. One of these fundraising efforts is the Memphis Flowering Tree Trail donation program. For information, please contact us at (901) 522-1135.
Important Services of Memphis City Beautiful include the following:
Tool Bank
The Tool Bank is designed to keep Memphis a clean and litter-free city by loaning tools such as rakes, shovels, brooms and trash
bags to groups holding cleanups. By utilizing these resources, organizations eliminate the expense of purchasing tools for their
neighborhood clean ups. This is another way that Memphis City Beautiful Commission continues to work to increase community
responsibility and involvement in our beautification and environmental efforts.
52-Clean Litter Hotline (522-5326)
This on-going program provides citizens with the opportunity to report littering motorists. City Beautiful responds to the
complaint by sending a letter and a car litter bag.
Litter Box Lending
These boxes are provided to organizations that want to conveniently manage litter at special events. They can be borrowed free of
charge if returned in good condition, or they can be purchased for a $5.00 fee.
Speakers Bureau
Speakers are provided to those organizations, schools or businesses that have an interest in learning about our organization and
how they will benefit from our programs and resources.
For more information, contact
Eldra.White@memphistn.gov
Memphis City Beautiful has a full-time staff of four. We are a department within the Division of General Services, City of Memphis.
ADA NOTICE:
This facility is not fully accessible to those with disabilities. City Beautiful services are also provided at City Hall, 125 N.
Main, Room 568. Please call 522-1135 to arrange an appointment.