Overton Park Alliance
Evergreen Historic, Midtown Action Coalition, VECA, Park Friends, Parkway House, Belleair Woods, Memphis
Heritage, Stop Hurting Overton Park, Hein Park Neighborhood, Midtown Memphis Development Corp, Humans of
Overton Park, Cooper–Young Community Association, Free Parking Brigade, Bellaire Woods, East End
Neighborhood, Morningside Place, Central Gardens, Tucker Jefferson, Physicians for Urban Parks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2016
RE: MAYOR STRICKLAND’S PROPOSAL TO REMOVE PARKING FROM THE OVERTON PARK GREENSWARD
Today, Mayor Strickland announced a proposed resolution to address the parking needs of the Memphis Zoo, while
preserving the essential character of the central public space in the park referred to as the Greensward.
The Mayor’s compromise plan requires the sacrifice of a portion of the Greensward adjacent to current Zoo parking in
exchange for permanent protection of the vast majority of the Greensward land for public use. This compromise
includes the creation of a visual and physical barrier to separate the natural park spaces from the Zoo’s parking lot. We
regret that any portion of the park’s natural space must be sacrificed. However, we understand that the continued
success of the Memphis Zoo, a key partner of the park and an institution cherished by generations of Memphians,
requires that parking solutions be found. To accomplish this goal we support the proposed compromise and express our
appreciation and gratitude to the Mayor for his leadership in resolving this issue.
As with all public projects, the “devil’s in the details.” Our support is based upon our understanding that the final
document will address the following critical issues:
1. This solution, when fully implemented, will once and for all end Zoo use of the Greensward other than the
portion to be incorporated into the Zoo lot. Legal protections must be established to permanently assure the
enforceability of the plan.
2. Landscape design professionals will advise the City on the optimal line of demarcation at the edge of the swale
area and create a low impact development plan in order to provide the most visually optimal solution so as to
preserve and enhance the natural appearance of the land.
3. The current dispute over park management will be resolved with the Zoo being granted control over the portion
of the Greensward to be devoted to Zoo parking, while the Overton Park Conservancy’s management control of
and responsibility for the natural portion of the Greensward will be affirmed. Upon its abandonment by the
City, the General Services Lot will be transferred to the OPC, with Zoo visitors granted usage of the paved
parking area for overflow parking along with park visitors.
4. To the extent possible the design professionals will be charged with preserving the old growth Magnolia and Oak
trees to the south of the existing Zoo lot and incorporating them within protected areas in the extended Zoo lot.
5. The final plan will confirm and recognize the protection of the Old Forest area of the park from incursions by Zoo
trams or other passenger vehicles.
6. The Mayor should establish a mechanism for public input with regard to the implementation plans for the
agreements outlined in his proposal.
2282 Madison Ave. Memphis, Tennessee 38104

 Overton Park Alliance
Evergreen Historic, Midtown Action Coalition, VECA, Park Friends, Parkway House, Belleair Woods, Memphis
Heritage, Stop Hurting Overton Park, Hein Park Neighborhood, Midtown Memphis Development Corp, Humans of
Overton Park, Cooper–Young Community Association, Free Parking Brigade, Bellaire Woods, East End
Neighborhood, Morningside Place, Central Gardens, Tucker Jefferson, Physicians for Urban Parks

The Overton Park Alliance will continue to remain vigilant to assure that the proposed plan is implemented to the
benefit of the park and all of it’s users. We encourage all park supporters to express their appreciation to the Mayor for
his leadership on this critical issue.
We encourage park users to continue to express their love for the park through robust regular use of the Greensward,
but we ask that park supporters refrain from actions that would interfere with the Zoo’s use of the area for necessary
overflow parking until the plan is fully implemented in 2017. We ask the Zoo to reciprocate with a show of good faith by
removing the metal barriers from the Greensward commencing immediately and only use the Greensward in this
interim period when truly necessary.
The Overton Park Alliance is comprised of the neighborhood associations and park support organizations listed above
and collectively represents tens of thousands of Memphis citizens with a deep love for our city and for Overton Park, a
public space used weekly by thousands of Memphians and Mid-Southerners. We are committed to protecting the park
for the use and enjoyment of all Memphians and for generations of Memphians to come.

For Further Information please contact:
Eric Gottlieb

901-283-6445

John Slater

901-230-5062

2282 Madison Ave. Memphis, Tennessee 38104