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Memphis, TN. - Shelby County Government has structured an agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc. to acquire seven miles of inactive rail property to create an urban greenway that will connect Midtown Memphis to Shelby Farms Park.
Regarding the upcoming transformation of the rail property to an urban greenway, Shelby County Mayor Wharton remarked, "This is recycling at its best. We basically have the chance to turn a once inactive area into a valuable green corridor that will allow for easier community-wide access to Shelby Farms Park. I'm not at all overstating things to say that this project will have a positive impact for generations to come." Wharton continued, "This development is bigger than us having a pretty, green entry point. It touches on impacting our community's health, on linking citizens together, and even on clean modes of transportation. However, the tangential impact that may be overlooked is economic. A project like this gives us a competitive edge to other communities as we all seek to attract new businesses and new citizens."
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, the nonprofit organization responsible for operation and management of Shelby Farms Park, will grant acquisition funds of $4,775,000 to Shelby County to purchase a segment of the rail property that runs from Avery (near the school board office on Hollywood) to Farm Road at Shelby Farms Park, and to fund necessary bridge improvements. The acquisition price is $4.5 million, and the remaining $275,000 will be used for the design, construction, maintenance, or enhancement of the trail and to strengthen bridges along the trail.
Shelby County will utilize $1.5 million in Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds to construct an asphalt trail, with the County agreeing to provide $375,000 in Capital Improvement Program (CIP) matching funds. The County is exploring opportunities with the City of Memphis for Community Development Block Grant funds for portions of the trail in designated renewal communities.
The Administration is requesting the Shelby County Board of Commissioners grant Shelby Farms Park Conservancy expanded authority to manage and maintain the greenway connector. By doing so, the County establishes partnership with a nonprofit organization with fundraising capacity to manage the trail and ensure its success.
Mayor Wharton commented, "The current management model that we implemented has proven its worth. I would dare say that the success of this public/private partnership could serve as an example for other communities who have not yet discovered the value of such a relationship." He emphasized, "All of this supports and fits within our larger vision for a Sustainable Shelby."
The Conservancy's management role includes developing a comprehensive use and security plan along the greenway corridor.
"These are tough economic times, but by working together with the Conservancy we have found a way to overcome economic challenges to do something that will yield numerous benefits to the community," Mayor Wharton said. "With only $375,000 in County dollars, we are able to leverage $6,275,000 million in private and federal dollars to make a strategic investment that will pay great dividends for years to come."
Calvin Anderson, Chairman of the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, said the agreement with CSX is a significant achievement because it expands the reach of Shelby Farms Park and achieves a goal of enhancing access to park users.
"It's important for people to view this greenway as a seven-mile addition to Shelby Farms Park," Anderson said. "It physically connects us with neighborhoods--a goal we have had since inception. We heard from so many people last year in the public input sessions for master planning just how important they believe it is for people to access the park by means other than a car.
"The Conservancy is dedicated to utilizing its skills and expertise to bring the greenway to its full potential; this must be done in a way that involves the community in a careful process to make sure we get it right," he said. "We are prepared to do just that if the County will place that trust in our Board."
Bob Schreiber of Greater Memphis Greenline, an organization that has long advocated for the rails-to-trails project said, "For years, Greater Memphis Greenline has worked to promote understanding of the incredible benefits greenways have for communities and to educate and advocate for the unique opportunity we in Memphis have in this project.
"We are proud to celebrate having given the project the momentum it needed to get to this point. The Conservancy is the right organization to manage the greenway and trail, and we look forward to partnering with them to make this greenway a reality for the citizens of Memphis. More than that, we look forward to using the trail."
The Board of Commissioners will be asked to support a resolution on the March 30 meeting that:
- Accepts the $4,775,000 in grant funds from Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, which requires the County build a trail.
- Authorizes use of CIP funds up to $375,000 to provide a match for $1.5 million dollars in STP funds, to be used to build the trail.
- Approves the Purchase Agreement with CSX to purchase the right-of-way for the trail.
- Amends the Management Agreement with Shelby Farms Park Conservancy to authorize them to operate, enhance, and maintain the trail.
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