# 2 Park Moment of 2007
Master Planners Come to Town
I'm at that age when everyone I know is either getting engaged, married or bitter. Needless to say, I've been to a lot of weddings this year. Don't get me wrong; these are lovely events. Months, sometimes years of planning go into weddings. You agree to do the thing, slap the ring on your finger, and you're immediately thrown into a maelstrom of decision-making. The chaos that leads up to the final day is enough to drive someone crazy (and frequently does).
You plan it all out, buy the dress, send the invitations, get the flowers...and then it's time. Everyone's there to see you. The event you've lost so much sleep over is finally happening, and you know that it's happening because suddenly you're floating down an aisle toward something really exciting.
In 2007, a few moments we've been working toward for a long, long time occurred (the second of which will be tomorrow's top moment, naturally). In fact, much of 2007 was spent soliciting, choosing and hosting master plan design teams. The fact that 33 firms from across the U.S. and Europe saw our project and said, "Oh, yeah, we wanna be part of that" is pretty incredible, but not surprising. The opportunity we have at this park is unparalleled, and these firms realized it. The finalists were chosen-field operations, Hargreaves Associates and Tom Leader Studio. The flights were booked. The reservations were made. The caterer was called. But when the design teams walked through the doors of the Visitor Center for our first reception, it was pretty surreal.
This park is on the cusp of greatness. Believe it. We're entering an age when the most impressive feats of architecture are those that are built sustainable. Companies are falling over each other to prove they're the greenest. The number of coffee shops per square mile is no longer driving folks to relocate-green space is (I say that with an undiminished love for coffee shops and everything therein). A 4,500 park in the middle of a city does not exist elsewhere. By transforming this park, we will transform this city. Wouldn't it be nice for Memphis to be known as the place with the best parks and coolest greenways rather than the widest waistlines and highest heart disease rates?
We're so excited about the future of Shelby Farms Park, and we know you are, too.
And that's why the Master Planners coming to town is my #2 Park Moment of 2007. You probably don't have to guess where we're having our honeymoon.
