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Greening Memphis
With distinctive parks, greenway corridors and a unique natural landscape, Memphis, unlike any other city in America, is positioned for greatness when it comes to green space. In fact, no other city can boast assets like our downtown riverfront, rivers, lakes and parks.
By advancing world-class master plans that move bold, catalytic projects from vision to success, our city has the opportunity to create the Memphis Greenprint – an interconnected network of open space, parks, greenways and trails that touches every neighborhood. From the Mississippi River to the Wolf River to Shelby Farms Park, this “Greenprint for All” will offer citizens access to open land and green space regardless of where they live in our city.
Memphis Greenprint
The Memphis Greenprint will not only transform Memphis into an even more beautiful, livable city, but also yield a significant economic impact. A thriving greenprint will boost tourism, increase property values, and help attract and retain our next generation of talented workers and community leaders. In addition, our investments in this area will help Memphis become a more dynamic city by revitalizing distressed neighborhoods, connecting people from diverse communities, improving health and protecting the environment.
Fortunately, this vision is quite close to reality. Consider these examples:
The Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, the nonprofit organization officially charged with implementing the master plan for Shelby Farms Park and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the 4,500-acre park. With a greatly expanded Patriot Lake and more than 20 bodies of water, improved pedestrian access, a state-of-the-art playground, expanded and enhanced trails, a state natural area, 1 million new trees, and more, the revitalized park will offer something for everyone and become the Great American Park of the 21st century.
The Wolf River Greenway, a planned 22-mile-long trail extending from the Mississippi to Germantown. Benefits of the greenway and trail include not only new recreational options for Memphians in many neighborhoods, but also wetlands preservation, storm water management, flood control, and better access to parks and greenspace throughout the city.
Similarly, a 13-mile expanse of railroad right-of-way, stretching from Midtown to Cordova, will feature a 10-foot-wide multi-use trail that will intersect with the Wolf River Greenway at Shelby Farms Park.
The Riverfront Development Corporation, responsible for creating a world-class waterfront destination. Its work is transforming the downtown area along the Mississippi River into a vibrant showcase of green space, public use and recreation that will reconnect citizens to their riverfront. The RDC’s exciting plan includes Beale Street Landing, the 5-mile Riverwalk and Bluffwalk, the Promenade, and 11 exceptional parks.
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News &
Knowledge Center
2/3/2012 By Jonathan Devin - Special to The Daily News -
It may be the start of a new year for ... 2/2/2012 By Emily Adams Keplinger - The Commercial Appeal -
The Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park has become one ... 2/2/2012 by SUSAN ELLIS - The Memphis Flyer -
Folks who pay attention to their food sources have two events to ...
Partner Spotlight
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. Click here to read the full profile.
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