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Memphis, TN. - So, what's your vision for Shelby Farms Park? It's time to present your ideas, as the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy begins a series of public input forums designed to collect community input that will shape the park's future.
The Shelby Farms Park Conservancy will hold the first in a series of public input forums on Nov. 14, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Road. The public is not only invited, but encouraged to attend and share their ideas and thoughts about features they'd like to see in the park's final plan.
"This park belongs to the residents of Shelby County and we're eager to hear ideas from people about what they want to see and do at Shelby Farms," said Calvin Anderson, chairman of the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy board of directors. "By involving the public we can fully develop a unique vision that retains the present assets and embraces the full potential of this great park. It's the way we will make Shelby Farms our very own park."
Other public input forums are:
- Nov. 20, White Station High School, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.;
- Nov. 26, at the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.;
- and a youth forum for teenagers on Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Shelby Farms Park Visitors' Center, 500 Pine Lake Drive.
The public can also take an online survey by going to www.shelbyfarmspark.org.
"It's big enough for everyone, big enough for the diversity of interests that exist in the community," said Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton. "We want to hear from the walkers, bikers, bird watchers or a young child who wants to swing and slide - everyone who can help us shape Shelby Farms to be the best urban park in North America."
At 4,500 acres, Shelby Farms Park has immense potential because of its size, in addition to its location in the center of the county.
So, how about more bike or running trails, more pastoral vistas, expansion of native plant life, or a new king-sized children's playground? Bring your ideas, because plans are being made.
A team of facilitators will break attendees into smaller working groups to collect community input that will be organized and presented to firms competing in the master planning competition that runs from December through March. Incorporating public input from the forums is an essential part of the master planning competition, Anderson said.
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy is currently reviewing more than 33 design plans sent in from the world's most prestigious and experienced firms. The pool will be narrowed down to three finalists who will then develop their proposed master plans for the park.
Citizen input collected at the public input forums and through the online survey will be collected, organized and presented to the master plan design forms as vital consideration for their recommendations. The firms' designs will be unveiled in early March at a public exhibition. The public will be invited to comment on the designs and the winning master plan design will be announced in April.
Other communities that have recently conducted major parks' master plans have held similar public input sessions. Through these local public input processes, communities are able to put their own unique fingerprints into the design and the park program, says David Karem of the Louisville Waterfront Development Corp.
Recent examples of major public input campaigns for local parks are: Fresh Kills Park in New York, Eloise Hirsh, (917) 731-2773; Louisville Waterfront Park, David Karem, (502) 582-1171or contact Gayle Berens at the Urban Land Institute, (202) 664-6973 or Peter Harnik at the Trust for Public Land Center for City Park Excellence.
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