Grizzlies Pop-Up Fitness Trail Opens along River in Tom Lee Park

 

When you see the smiles or catch a sunset in Tom Lee Park, it's hard to believe that in 1997, the City planned to allow residential development of this park.  Today it covers about 30 acres, much of which is landfill added in 1977 to stabilize the Bluff and create the grand expanse that holds Memphis in May events. The park was again expanded in 1993, and recently several acres were added for Beale Street Landing.

Thanks to the Grizzlies and BlueCross BlueShield, a wonderful, new pop-up fitness trail now stretches along the shoreline, and there's a beach volleyball court, too. Designed by Askew, Nixon, Ferguson the trail is on trial, so be sure to go down, check it out, and GetRiver Fit!

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"What if we start Seeing Memphis as Green & Growing?"

That's what Ed McMahon, Senior Fellow at the Urban Land Institute and Director of Land Use Planning for the Conservation Fund, recommended in Memphis a couple of weeks ago. 


Conservation of our natural resources, economic development, and prosperity go hand-in-hand he told audiences, and a couple of events this week show how Memphis is heading in that direction.  


Thoughts about economic development have changed McMahon pointed out. Today people are attracted to a place by beauty, recreation, and a family friendly environment, and cities, developers, conservation organizations, and landowners see that protecting natural resources is good for development. Homebuyers pay premium prices to live near nature and open spaces. This is about creating a place where people want to live, a city that is growing. 

"The 1st step is to figure out where not to develop, for instance places like a shore line, steep slope, or floodplain. If you figure out where not to develop, that points out where to develop," McMahon said. Views are important, too; locally you can ask anybody with a view of the River or a golf course, and they'll second that.

Green & Growing - Events this Week:
* Opening, Grizzlies Pop-Up Fitness Trail on the Riverfront in Tom Lee Park - Wed., 5-7 p.m.
* Public Presentation, Greenprint Plan for the Region - Thurs., 5:30-7 p.m., Hooks Main Library
McKellar Lake Clean-up with Memphis River Warriors, Sat. 10 am
Greenway Soiree benefitting Wolf River Conservancy, Sat. 6-9 pm, Wolf River 

Click HERE for an article by Amos Maki for the Daily News that includes more information about Mr. McMahon's talk.  


"Take Me to the River"

Music, History, Memphis, Genius - and, of course, we love the title. This documentary pairs across generations such musicians as Al Kapone and Booker T. Jones to look for the answer to what makes Memphis music so special. 

Click HERE for a review by Chris McCoy in "The Flyer." 
The film is playing at Malco Paradiso.