It was February 8, 2007, when it became clear that there was an unfulfilled desire for green assets in Memphis.
On that night, an overflow crowd of more than 1,000 people crammed into Hardin Hall and beyond at Memphis Botanic Garden as a show of support for te Greening Greater Memphis Manifesto, a document heralding the dawn of a new green ethos for our community.  Its centerpiece was the concept developed by several people of a network that connected Shelby Farms Park, Wolf River Greenway, Shelby Farms Greenline, and the downtown riverfront into one seamless “green necklace.”

The promise of that night became reality on October 5 last year when the 6.5-mile Shelby Farms Greenline opened to thousands of eager walkers, runners, and cyclists. The “rails to trails” project was made possible by $7 million in financial support to purchase the right-of-way and construct the trail.  Funding came from the federal and county governments and private sources, including Hyde Family Foundations.  

Shelby County Government handled construction which began Feb. 11, 2010.  Shelby Farms Park Conservancy is responsible for the operating costs of the Greenline.

“Shelby Farms Park matters most if it matters to the most of us,” said Laura Adams, executive director of Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.  “That is why Shelby Farms Park Conservancy stepped up to develop and manage the Shelby Farms Greenline.  We view the Greenline not only as a vital connector between the core of the city and Shelby Farms Park, we consider the trail as part of the Park itself.”

Before the construction of the Greenline, it was nearly impossible to bike or run safely into the Park, she said, but when coupled with the Wolf River Pedestrian Bridge, which connects to the Wolf River Greenway trail, now hundreds of visitors to the park are entering through the two gateways.  

“We knew the Greenline was a success long before it opened because it was difficult to keep people off the trail,” said Jen Andrews, director of communications at Shelby Farms Park.  “It can only be described as a brilliant success.  People love it.  It comes up in random conversations.  It is something people are proud of.  We have a green army mobilized by the confidence that we will do what we say we will.”

She said that Shelby Farms Park is for everybody, and that has been the philosophy for the Greenline as well, connecting neighborhoods from East Memphis to Binghampton.  “Everyone knows the park is for everybody,” Ms. Andrews said.  “If you visit the new playground on Saturday afternoon, it looks just like the city.  So does the Greenline.”

Future plans are to develop outreach to children along the Greenline and to extend it to Overton Park, the Fairgrounds and destinations east.  To support this vision, people should become a member of the park online, because “together, we can stitch together the fabric of our city,” she said.  

“We are on the way to reinventing ourselves as a walkable and bikable community that keeps our talent here, and attracts the best and the brightest into our fold,” said Ms. Adams.  “Yes, we can move the needle on the health of our community by providing safe and accessible Park and Greenline amenities.  Yes, we can promote economic development and stable neighborhoods by providing places where people want to live, work and play.  Park and Greenline amenities will flourish in Memphis because Memphians will insist on it.”