Introduction

In 1990 the Mississippi Legislature legalized gaming as a job and tax creation strategy. Tunica, located at the northern border of the state near Memphis, Tennessee, was the first county to adopt gaming as an economic development strategy and implemented a program of rapid growth. The first casino was completed in 1992 and eight more were opened during the next twelve years. The economic impact on the area was phenomenal. Previously known as the `poorest county in the nation' with a primarily agrarian economy, the Tunica County budget grew from $3.5 million to $100.4 million between 1992 and 2003 and created 17,700 new jobs. In an effort to amenitize and expand its recreational portfolio, Tunica developed a program for new project development that included a golf and tennis center, airport expansion, a concert hall, and the Tunica RiverPark and Museum.

Engaging the River

Although the gaming establishments in Tunica are referred to as "Riverboat Casinos," most are not located directly on or within sight of the river. Tunica County wanted to create a place where the estimated ten million annual visitors could see, experience, and learn about the Mississippi River and its associated habitats. The completed project, for which the landscape architect provided both land planning and design for the park and museum, created an interactive and interwoven experience that teaches the visitor about riparian ecology as well as the varied history of man's association with the river.

The planning team completed feasibility studies for three other candidate sites before recommending the final location for the park. Final selection of the 168-acre site was based on access to and visibility of the river, the existence of a diverse natural system containing representative floodplain forest, and proximity to a navigation channel that would allow riverboat rides to become one of the park's major attractions. The chosen site would also experience the least amount of environmental alteration of the four considered, given that it had already suffered some previous ecological disturbance.

The park and museum allow interaction with the water on several different levels. After traveling through several different ecosystems along the winding entry road, the visitor emerges from the woods and arrives at the Museum. There he is introduced to the interpretive system found within the park and nature trail system, as well as exhibits focusing on the relationship between the river, its wildlife, the levee system, and the history, culture, and economy of the region. Outside, the visitor reaches the water's edge at the Mississippi River Plaza-a scenic overlook-and the Riverfront Promenade, extending out over the river's bank at either end to provide a taste of the expanse and scale of the river. He then completes his journey to the water by crossing a bridge to the docking facility and boarding a recreational

or fishing boat, or by taking a trip on the "Tunica Queen"-a riverboat providing excursions along the river corridor. Back on dry land, The Meander Garden illustrates the dynamics of flooding in this changeable environment and its impact on both natural and manmade systems. The garden provides access to the woodland trail system, winding along the river and through the forest. Interpretive displays describe the important and dynamic relationship between the river and the ecosystems of its 'back water' areas, adapted to periodic flooding and soil deposition.

Designing with Water

The public's engagement with the river is heightened by contrasts between the formal qualities of the park. The 'sail' form of the building mimics the prow of a ship and is a strong focal point visible from all areas of the park as well as distant vantage points. Oversized bollards, seat walls and light fixtures reflect the massive scale and force of the river.

The river orientation of the site moves beyond a symbolic response to the river's formal qualities to a literal embracing of the river's seasonal floods, for practical as well as educational purposes. The landscape architect's greatest challenge was to create a design that would not only survive but also be enhanced by seasonal flooding. To allow floodwaters to reach the riparian habitats they support, and to minimize disturbance to the construction, all outdoor areas of the park are purposely subjected to some level of flooding. The open design of the Pavilion at the end of the Meander Garden, for example, as well as the use of elevated boardwalks, permits the free flow of water. The Museum is located on an island constructed from earth dredged from the river during the creation of the harbor. During flooding episodes it is accessible only by boat, giving the visitor a unique experience of the river's seasonal fluctuations.

Significance

The sensitivity of the park's design in response to changing water levels is unique and significant from both an experiential and functional standpoint. Overall, the design has had minimal impact on local ecological processes, in part due to the creation of new habitat to mitigate any damage to the existing river's edge.

Just as importantly, only one year after completion the museum has been heavily visited and the riverboat business has been very successful. The Tunica RiverPark and Museum provide a unique and comprehensive destination where both local citizenry and visitors from around the country can understand the relationships between the river's natural and manmade aspects, and between the river and the wider region. The surrounding region contains an odd juxtaposition of cotton fields, ancient river terraces, miles of verdant linear levees, and sometimes jarring multi-colored casinos that rise oddly out of the landscape. The museum and park highlight this curious and uniquely American phenomenon, and illustrate the complex and continually evolving relationship between man and river.