Parks are for people.
This is a simple statement, quite self-explainable, but for some prominent and powerful Memphians, it seems to require further clarification.
Nestled in Midtown, there is the beautiful and truly historic Overton Park. From the Brooks Museum, to the restaurants and boutiques in the Square, to even the Memphis Zoo, the area owes much of its appeal to the attractions that surround it. That being said, the green space itself is the center that all is built from, around, and for. Every business that makes its home near the Old Forest State Natural Area, bike paths, and recently established dog park, is a mere extension of the heart of it all, the park itself.
The 1950s were a tumultuous time in Memphis history. In response to pending plans for an extension of I-40 that would threaten the Overton Park land, "Citizens to Preserve Overton Park" was born. This advocacy group was formed due to the incredibly passionate voices in favor of this open land. The potential of a defaced Overton Park and the reaction that the Memphis community had to it, propelled this case from the dirty south all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Ultimately, Midtown advocates succeeded in their pursuit of preservation. Today, in 2016 however, the sacrifices they made have been spurned.
Parks are for people, not for parking lots. The decision to give the Memphis Zoo control of the Greensward area is an especially personal one for those who understand and defend the history behind this milieu. Overton Park is not simply recreational space, it is a symbol of Memphis' transformation into a city that is truly a viable competitor in the global market. This land reflects a time in which the outside world began to view Memphis and the South as an environment that would grow beyond its controversial beginnings, into something even greater.
Having grown up in cities, I know what it feels like to see historic landmarks, culturally iconic locales, and community hubs torn down for the sake of an apartment complex. I am now almost numb to the frustrations of a place so personal to local residents being demolished so that a new entity, oftentimes one that is extravagantly too expensive for people within a five mile radius, can exist in its absence.
In the hustle and bustle of a city, green space is profoundly important. Parks connect us all to one another, allowing common ground, space to be utilized as we wish, to reflect our individual needs. Overton Park has a far greater impact on the Memphis identity than we will ever realize, and as our city adapts and expands, to minimize this land is an absolute disservice to its purpose.
