At more than 5 times the size of New York's famous Central Park, and with over 1,000,000 visitors a year, Shelby Farms in Memphis, Tennessee is definitely not your average park.
Shelby Farms as it is known today
wasn't founded until 2006. From 1929-1964, the land was the site of the Shelby
County Penal Farm in Memphis, TN. Due to its renowned success in soil
conservation, award winning cattle, and nationally recognized model regarding
inmate rehabilitation, it quickly developed into one of the most visited penal
farms in the world. However, despite its worldwide recognition, the Shelby
County government decided there were more appropriate uses for the land, and
began to look into alternative projects. After decades of indecisiveness and
opposition from both county citizens and the government, in 2005 a master plan
was finally approved regarding the land. The following year the Shelby Farms
Park Conservancy was created to maintain and manage the park, and signed a 10
year management agreement, giving the non-profit control over roughly ¾ of the
parks operations.
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| Map of Shelby Farms http://www.walkrunfightaids.racesonline.com/images/site_images/ShelbyFarms_Map_resized2.jpg |
At 4,500 acres of green, rolling
hills, wooded forests, and lakes and ponds, Shelby Farms is nothing if not
spacious. Located in East Memphis, the park is within a 20 minute drive of
anywhere in Memphis, and provides a beautiful refuge from the day to day hassle
of city life. With tens of thousands of trees already planted and thousands
more planted each year, 50 acres dedicated to housing 25 of the once endangered
American Bison, and an additional 50 acres utilized by Shelby County Community
Gardens, the park aims to give back to the community that has preserved it.
However, there is more to the park than philanthropy- there are dozens of lakes
and ponds available for fishing (with no ‘catch’ fee!), as well as seven paved
and unpaved trails suitable for walkers, runners, and cyclists.
With such a large expanse of nature utilized as a park, it’s natural to be concerned about the upkeep and cleanliness of the grounds. While you will occasionally see a piece of litter or empty bottle in the bushes along the trails, the Conservancy is really good at hiring qualified groundskeepers and maintenance staff, and most of the people that visit the park are very conscious of their littler. The park also employs special locking trash cans that can only be accessed by pressing a lever and lifting up to thwart any mischievous animals or strong winds. One woman I spoke with said "Of course there is going to be a piece of trash here or there, but overall it's really clean." Even though it has much, much more traffic than your typical park, Shelby Farms maintains one of the cleanest, most natural environments available, ESPECIALLY in such an urban setting. I find the park to be so beautiful, I actually had my engagement photos taken here! They were such a hit that my cousin did the same thing. (There is no fee to use the grounds for photography purposes, whether for professional or recreational purposes)
Aside from the large expanses of
open grass, Shelby Farms has 7 rentable sheltered picnic areas, each seating
between 32 and 100 people. Also, the shelters ARE available on a first come-
first served basis if not rented out for the day. While a smaller park very
quickly feels too crowded on a nice summer weekend, Shelby Farms is so large
that even on Memorial Day weekend (the first holiday weekend with nice weather
in Memphis) there is plenty of space to
stretch out with your family for a picnic, or kick a soccer ball around. The trails are wide enough to accommodate people
coming from both directions, and most cyclists are courteous to warn you with
an “on your left!” before they pass. I will mention, however, that the unpaved trails
may be a little too cramped to comfortably fit a wide stroller at some of the
busier times. The park also has a beautiful, modern visitor center with rooms
available for corporate events, reunions, and wedding receptions.
One very important, but often
overlooked, element to a great park is the atmosphere. Or, in other words, what
kind of person is this park really appropriate for? There are some parks that
are only fun for very small children, while there are other playgrounds we absolutely
would not want to take a family to visit. Whether one is looking for something
to do as a college student, a family with small children, a couple, a senior,
or a large group, there is absolutely something exciting for virtually every
age and temperament at Shelby Farms. Aside from the free attractions, such as
fishing or cycling, there is a diverse assortment of recreational activities to
rent on the grounds. There is a newly added paintball and laser tag field, a
disc golf course, and an amphitheater that hosts summer concerts. Many of the
lakes offer paddle boating, kayaking, and canoeing, as well as the 55 acre
Patriot Lake housing battery operated motor boats. There are also horse stables
that offer both group and private riding lessons. There are so many options for
things to do, that it’s rare anyone feels like there isn’t something ‘just for
them’.
Since we’re talking about parks here,
let’s be honest- the quality of the play equipment is a HUGE determining factor
for the overall quality of the park. Children from ages 2-15 (and their parents
and babysitters!) adore the multi-level Woodland Discovery playground at Shelby
Farms. The area boasts three separate playgrounds, each focusing on a different
aspect- the first is a HUGE sandbox with working water pumps and a large tower
and slide the children can navigate, the next is a series of wide slides and
climbing apparatuses, and the third involves rope swings, and a large rope maze
that the children must cross to reach the top of the play area. One mom said "If I have the option, I will always offer to take the girls here over another play area. They have fun, don't get bored after 10 minutes, and it's such a beautiful environment for me, too." The whole play structure is housed in
a winding steel arbor laced with flowering vines and willow trees, and is one
of the first projects in the WORLD to be certified by the Sustainable Sites
Initiative. Most of the play equipment focuses on ADA play standards, so the
children are truly playing with a purpose.
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| Illustration of Shelby Farms Playground http://media.commercialappeal.com/media/img/photos/2010/03/02/Sand-and-Slide-Nest_t607.jpg |
Aside from the vast assortment of recreational
activities, the park is home to many unique events as well. Shelby Farms has an
annual Earth Day celebration, which includes a 5k, numerous vendors selling
food, crafts, and other items, a kid's area complete with rock wall and face
painting, and live entertainment. Every winter, Shelby Farms sponsors 'Starry
Nights', where the entire park is decorated with ornate Christmas light designs
and coordinating music playing through a local radio station; at $20 per car
this is one of the priciest events Shelby Farms has, but ALL proceeds go
directly back into preserving the park. Two different versions of summer camp
are available for children, and classes are available for adults on topics like
'Going Native- the right plant for the right place' and 'Invasive Species
Control'. When planning events, Shelby Farms takes into account the diversity
of the surrounding city, and plans things that people of varying ages, income
levels, and interests can appreciate.
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Shelby Farms is so much more than
just a park- it truly provides a space for both tourists and local Memphians,
business men and stay-at-home moms, toddlers and seniors, walkers and cyclists,
and everyone in between to enjoy nature and take a moment away from the
concrete and busy life of the city. I know you have a lot of options for places to
exercise after work, or plan your family reunion, or take your kids to play.
However, over 1,000,000 visitors each year can attest to the fact
that nothing can compare to the clean beauty, diverse attractions,
and reenergizing atmosphere of Shelby Farms. I have to warn that once you
visit, your expectations of a park will forever be held to a higher, virtually unattainable
standard. But hey, that's just another excuse for you to start planning
your next visit to Shelby Farms!
Visit Shelby Farms Website
References:
Shelby Farms Park has something for
everyone. (2012). ShelbyFarmsPark.org Retrieved June 10,
2013, from http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/
