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Weekly UpdatesIn August 2008, the sparkle on Shelby County's jewel, Shelby Farms Park, became a little brighter. Shelby Farms Park's Master Plan was approved by the Shelby County Commission with a unanimous vote. Immediately after this decision, the Hyde Family Foundations, an important local philanthropic organization, pledged $20 million toward the first phase of the plan. The future of the largest urban park in the nation--and of all those who use it--is about to become bigger, better, and greener, and the Memphis economy stands to benefit from this innovative plan.
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The Push for Parks
Parks have long been known for their ability to improve the quality of life in the communities that surround them. In 1857, Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape designer of Central Park in New York City, wrote that designing a public park in New York City was "of great importance as the first real park made in this century--a democratic development of the highest significance...." He based his opinion on the older parks he had seen while traveling throughout Europe.
Today, parks are even more important. Research proves that a higher quality of life plays a significant role in a city's ability to attract businesses and knowledgeable workers, as well as offering other economic benefits. According to research published by the Trust for Open Land, parks and open space increase the property values of surrounding areas, decrease healthcare costs by promoting exercise, attract tourists, boost recreational spending, and attract businesses and trained employees in search of a high quality of life.
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In addition, working lands, such as the farms and forests that are a part of Shelby Farms Park, usually contribute more money to a community than the cost of the services they require. Conserved open space helps safeguard drinking water, deans the air, and prevents flooding--services provided much more expensively by other means.
"Great parks are a part of the reason people choose to live in one city over another, and a part of the reason businesses choose to locate to one place as opposed to another," said Rick Masson, executive director of the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. "The enhancement of Shelby Farms Park according to the Master Plan will not only improve Shelby Farms Park's attractiveness to the city, but the city's attractiveness to the world."
A Master Plan
At 4,500 acres--five times the size of Central Park--Shelby Farms Park has the potential to be the next great park of the twenty-first century and a major factor in the economic future of Memphis. Its potential was realized in 2006 when Shelby County Government placed a conservation easement on the park, protecting it as parkland, and then in 2007 when the full-time operation of the park was turned over to the nonprofit Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.
From the start, the Conservancy's goal was clear: to create a twenty-first century park for Memphis that would be the envy of the world. The Conservancy implemented a master plan process that included a worldwide search for the best landscape design firms. A world-renowned design firm based in New York City, field operations, was chosen to shape the vision of the Conservancy and the community into a park that could meet the needs of Memphians for generations to come. After an extensive public input phase followed by government approval, the Master Plan was in place.
The concept for the park developed by field operations, "One Park, One Million Trees, Twelve Landscapes," speaks to the Conservancy's belief that the park is big enough for everyone in Memphis to enjoy, no matter where they live or what they like to do. The twelve landscapes will highlight different land elements within the park, such as open water, fields, forests, gardens, and wetlands, and also help to carve out the several "rooms" designated as areas for sports, swimming, horseback riding, and picnicking.
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Phase one will see the first of one million new trees to be planted at the park; the expansion of the park's largest lake, Patriot Lake, from fifty-four acres to one hundred fifty acres with enhanced water features; more playgrounds, enhanced signage; and improved circulation throughout the park. "A good park is instantly identifiable with the city it belongs to--a great park becomes a part of that city and the culture of those who inhabit it," said Masson. "Shelby Farms Park has the potential to be that great park."
The Green Light
Memphis is not alone in its desire to enhance its green space in order to increase its standing in the eyes of world. Great cities around the globe have known for centuries that parks and open space increase the overall attractiveness of a city and offer a higher quality of life for residents by providing a welcome respite from city life. Parks such as New York's Central Park, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, London's Hyde Park, and Beijing's Beihai Park all create a sense of pride for residents and have become landmarks the world over.
"Memphis, like other cities around the world, wants to attract the best and the brightest, and enhancing the quality of life for citizens is a way to do it," said Masson. "The great work that the University of Memphis is doing, the groundbreaking research happening at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and the major advancements in the biosciences field have put Memphis on the map when it comes to attracting world-class talent. Symbolically switching on the city's 'green light' by making our city more welcoming to businesses and knowledgeable workers is a step in the right direction."
Memphis has always benefitted economically from its natural resources. The city's prime location on the banks of the Mississippi River, in the geographic center of the country, has given Memphis a huge advantage throughout history in shipping and logistics.
Shelby Farms Park sits poised to continue the trend of utilizing Memphis' natural resources to attract businesses, talent, and jobs. Yet, there is still potential for more. Because it is situated in the geographical center of the county, field operations' designer James Corner refers to the park as the "green heart" of Shelby County. With the future completion of the adjacent Greenline and Wolf River Greenway, the park could one day connect seamlessly with downtown and midtown Memphis to the west and suburban communities Cordova, Germantown, and Collierville to the east.
There are initiatives in place to establish Shelby County's park system as one of the premier park systems in the country by enhancing Shelby Farms Park and developing a county-wide "greenprint." This "greenprint" will create a seamless system to link Shelby Farms Park and other county parks through a series of trails and greenlines.
"Shelby Farms Park could be the spark that turns the whole city green," said Masson. "The implementation of the Master Plan at Shelby Farms Park, and the continuation of the Wolf River Greenline and the Memphis Greenway could mean that people from all over the city would have access to open land and green space, no matter where they live."
Looking at other cities, it is apparent that this access is essential to relocating businesses. In Chicago, Boeing cited the city's quality of life, including recreational opportunities, as a factor in relocating its corporate headquarters. In North Carolina, both Reichold Chemical Company and Caterpillar, Inc., cited the presence of greenways as a decisive factor in their decision to locate to cities in the state. And, in Arizona, seventy firms that moved or expanded within the state said they chose Arizona for its "outdoor lifestyle and recreation opportunities," according to the President's Commission on American Outdoors.
"As the worldwide workforce becomes increasingly mobile, and the population becomes increasingly conscious of the natural environment, the need for cities to offer green space as a way to attract high-quality businesses and workers will become even more critical," said Masson. "Memphis has all the pieces in place to become a city that, over the next several years, people around the world will want to call home."
Phasing: Growth of the Park Over Time
Phase One: Establish the Core + Create Identity
1. Expanded Playground at Plough Park
2. Expanded Patriot Lake
3. Shelby Farms Parkway (Kirby-Whitten Parkway)--by others
4. New Walnut Grove Gateway + Park Entry
5. Park Circle Access + Trails
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Phase Two: Expand Core Public Park Area
1. Trail + Facility Enhancements to Plough Park
2. Walnut Grove Planting Strip
3. Reconfiguration + Expansion of Catch 'Em Lakes
4. Development of Refuge Area
5. Completion of Mutli-Use Loop
Phase Three: Enhance Landscape Rooms
1. Trail Enhancements to Outback Area
2. Enhancement + Expansion of Agricenter Campus
3. Development of Amenities + Activities along Wolf River
4. Development of Wolf River Greenway--by others
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Phase Four: Enhance Landscape Rooms (later phases to be determined)
1. Community Center + Sports Fields *
2. Public Gardens *
3. Agricenter Research + Crop Field Area
* pending area 10 approval
Special thanks to Laura Adams, Deputy Director Jen Andrews, Manager of Communications and Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
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SHELBY FARMS PARK CONSERVANCY
The vision of the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (SFPC) is to give rise to a celebrated twenty-first century park that defines and shapes a great city. SFPC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that stewards the design, planning, management, and maintenance of Shelby Farms Park for the public benefit.
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