The County Selects Non-Profit Shelby Farms Conservancy to Manage Shelby Farms Park

(10-Year Agreement Entered Into Today)

In an historic signing ceremony today, Shelby County Government entered into a 10-year agreement that gives a new nonprofit park conservancy the authority to “transform Shelby Farms Park into one of America’s great urban parks.”

“It’s hard today to overstate the importance that this agreement has for our community,” said Mayor A C Wharton. “It represents the fulfillment of Shelby County’s 30-year dream for this special place at the heart of our community. With this conservancy in place, we have now begun our journey to transform Shelby Farms Park into one of America’s great urban parks.”

Signing the agreement with Mayor Wharton in a ceremony at the Visitor Center at Shelby Farms Park was Calvin Anderson, representing the newly created 34-person Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. Attending were Shelby County Board of Commissioners Chairman Joe Ford, members of the new conservancy board and park supporters.

“It was a milestone in the history of the park – and the history of our county for that matter – when the commissioners approved new nonprofit management for the park on March 26,” said Chairman Ford. “The citizens dedicated to achieving our shared goals for this park represents a cross-section of our community, and they will include two individuals appointed by the commission. The board of commissioners is proud to have played a key role in setting in motion the process to make this the best park that it can be.”

The management agreement takes effect on August 1 and grants authority to the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy to operate Shelby Farms Park – excluding Agricenter International and “Area 10” which is set aside for use by county government.

The management agreement calls for:

• Conservancy management of parkland
• 10-year contract term
• County funding remains at the present level
• Conservancy to set all fees and operate all concessions
• Annual financial reports by Conservancy to Shelby County Government

Shelby Farms Park is a unique and treasured asset in our community,” said Wharton. “Finally, once and for all, there is no question about whether it will be protected for future generations and that its full potential will be realized for all of the people of Memphis and Shelby County

He saluted the “tireless work by so many partners to make this agreement possible.” “These include everyone from leaders in the public, private and philanthropic sectors to park supporters and the people who use it every day,” said Wharton. “We would not be here today without every one of them. But today is only the beginning. We need their continued commitment and hard work if we are to be successful in making Shelby Farms Park the special place that we all dream it can be.”

Anderson said that the Conservancy brings together people who are “committed to the park and passionate about its future,” he said. The Shelby Farms Park Alliance will disband and provide the complete support of its board and members to the new Conservancy, he said. Anderson was the last chair of the Alliance and is now Chairman of the Board of the new nonprofit organization.

“Our vision for this park is limited only by our boldness to seize this unique opportunity,” he said. “ Shelby Farms Park can become a metropolitan park that is a model for this nation in the 21^st century. It all begins with a master plan and that is our first order of business, because it will articulate our vision for the park, engage the public in a meaningful way and attract new local and national partners to our work.”

The ceremony culminated four months of discussions between the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, Mayor Wharton, Shelby Farms Ad Hoc Committee, Shelby Farms Park Alliance and local private foundations to develop the best model for park management in the U.S. Soon, the Conservancy will turn its attention to hiring the staff to manage the park and oversee the planning process.

“The agreement being made today is what we have all worked so hard for so long to accomplish,” said Laura Adams, executive director of the Shelby Farms Park Alliance. “This is a day for celebration for all of us who love this park. After all, it was the public that insisted that Shelby Farms had to be protected for the uses now envisioned for it. As we proceed, public input will be a guiding principle for all that we do. I believe the future of Shelby Farms as one of the great urban parks in the nation is now assured.”

Members of the Conservancy Board are Mayor Wharton, two individuals to be appointed by the Shelby County Commission, Anderson, Elizabeth Boyd, Judge George Brown, Marsh Campbell, Buck Clark, Dorothy Crook, Willie Gregory, Tom Grimes, Barbara Hyde, Larry Jensen, Roger Knox, B. Lee Mallory, Rick Masson, John McCormick, Michael McDonnell, Will Moore, Patrick Neely, Cheryl Patterson, Mearl Purvis, Ken Reeves, Carol Ross-Spang, Tom Schmitt, Peter Schutt, Ham Smythe, Mark Stansbury, Rorie Trammel, Bridget Trenary, Bill Tuttle, Peter Wehrly, Kem Wilson III, and Luke Yancy IV.