SFPC Blog

Dear Earthians,

This Sunday I'm playing some music at the Earth Day festivities in Memphis. Some of you might be asking yourself a lot of questions right now. Let's field a few real quick:

1) Um, who are you? Who am I? What am I doing here?
Great, good. I'm Chris Milam. I'm a singer/songwriter in Nashville. I'm originally from Memphis. I'm traveling from Nashville to Memphis to play some music at the Earth Day. This is happening on Sunday afternoon. It'll be funsies.

2) "Where can I learn more about the Earth Day festivities in Memphis?"
Well, you can go HERE for starters.

On my 79th birthday, I would like to spend the day reading a book, watching CNN and maybe telling boring stories about parks to loved ones. Same thing I did for my 24th birthday…

At the annual City Slicker Endurance Ride on March 16 at the park, one tough guy celebrated his 79th birthday by completing his 10,000th mile on horseback in endurance competition right here at Shelby Farms Park.

Hey, park fans. Spring is nigh, and the weather is alternately glorious and horrible, which means I must be in Memphis. Now, I'd like to share something with you. I have the uncanny ability to avoid all weather forecasts. Though I may look foolish walking through the rain without an umbrella or tromping through snow in my flip-flops, rest assured that it's a always a perfectly cool fall day in my head.

Famed American photographer Ansel Adams once said "A good photograph is knowing where to stand." Any paparazzo worth his or her wide angle lens would tell you the same. Perspective can make or break a photo. Let's be real with each other-if it's a poignant picture you're looking to grab, you can't just sit around wait for Kodak moments.

There are currently three very large and very heavy architectural models in route to Memphis as I type this. And depending on where you stand and how firmly your shoes are tied, these designs could really knock your socks off.

1. master plan (n) a plan giving comprehensive guidance

By now, park people, you've begun to notice some changes around this place. We've put in some new bear-proof trash cans (I've tested them, they're tough), doggie poop stations (for disposing of what you're dog's disposing of), and new directional signage. I think everyone can agree that these are good changes. Show of hands?

Fact is, the park's been changing all the time. From forest to penal farm to park, this piece of green has been in flux. All the lakes were man-made to support the crops grown at the penal farm. Patriot Lake was dug when dirt was needed to cap a landfill. While everyone and their brother has had an idea for what this place should be, there's never been a real plan. Fortunately, the land is now protected by a conservation easement (yeah!) and is being managed by a nonprofit in partnership with the county (woo!) and we're smack in the middlish-end of a master plan innovative design competition (alright!). Also, I'm turning my blog into a pep rally. GO BIG GREEN! I'm still cranked up from the Super Bowl. Thanks, Tom Petty.

The signing of the management agreement

A lot of people said it would never happen...that it couldn't happen.

Parks are operated by nonprofits all the time, but the road to a management agreement isn't without its bumps and curves. Thanks to the leadership and wisdom of the Shelby County Commission and Mayor AC Wharton, Shelby Farms Park is now counted in the growing number of public parks run by a public-private partnership. Central Park and Prospect Park in New York are operated this way. So is Piedmont Park in Atlanta and even the Memphis Zoo.

Cities across the country are making record investments in their parks and green spaces, and Shelby County had taken the first step toward prioritizing its valuable and unique natural resources as priceless public amenities. With the conservation easement secured in December of 2006 and the master plan innovative design competition under way, Shelby Farms Park's future is looking bright.

Shelby Farms Park Conservancy has big plans for this big park, and we know we're going to make Memphis proud.

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).

The Green Army Unites, Can't Find Parking

A mass of folks 1000 strong crowded into the Memphis Botanic Gardens in February of 2007 to show their support for connecting parks and green space in Memphis. At Greening Greater Memphis, bodies were flooding out the doors, into the parking lots. Some people couldn't even find parking (our apologies). It was an incredible feeling to be part of something so big. We sent a message loud and clear to the powers that be. Memphians want green infrastructure. They want to be able to hop on a safe greenway in Midtown and ride their bikes with their families out to the park. They want to run all along the Wolf River. They want the abandoned CSX rail line converted to a multi-use trail. They want to be known not as the city with the biggest waste lines but as the city with the cool parks and greenways. And they want elected officials to prioritize these issues.

Local environmental and green groups of varying shades set up shop all around the building and talk to people about their various activities and causes. Three mayors attended the meeting, along with lots of local business and opinion leaders.

Park Team Gets Bigger, Acquires Chic Accent

A lot is changing around here, and you've probably seen some new faces around the Visitor Center and out in the Park. I considered making a metaphor here about the changing seasons and something about wind or tides, maybe. Anyway, I decided to forego that comparison to make, in my opinion, a better one at the end of the post.