Shelby Farms

Infobox park
park=Shelby Farms


image size=300px
caption=Scenic view in Shelby Farms park (2005)
type=Municipal
location=Memphis, Tennessee
coordinates=coor dms|35|08|40|N|89|50|15|W
size=4,500 acres (18 km²)
opened=1970s
operator=Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
annual visitors=
status=Open all year from dawn to dusk

Shelby Farms is the largest urban park in the United States, located in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. At a size of 4,500 acres (18 km²), it covers more than five times the area of Central Park in New York City with 843 acres (3.4 km²).

Lakes, natural forests, and wetlands provide natural habitats for many smaller species close to an urban metropolitan area. Wildlife can be observed in their natural environment from the many trails in the park. Shelby Farms park is home to a bison herd.

The land that forms Shelby Farms park was derived from property that had been privately owned in the 19th century. In 1825, humanist reformer Frances Wright founded the Nashoba Commune on parts of what is modern day Shelby Farms. The purpose of the cummune was to emancipate slaves by providing education in practical and cultural skills. Remains of a settlement from the late 19th century are still present in the modern day park.

From 1929 until 1964 Shelby Farms was used as a penal farm associated with the Shelby County jail.

Shelby Farms was opened for recreational purposes in the 1970s. In 2007, a public and private non-profit partnership was established to provide for the daily operation of the park and to plan for its future use.

In 2008, a masterplan was put in place for the redesign of the park. The re-design would provide additional hiking and biking trails as well as more opportunities for boating and surfing.

Geography

Encompassing about 4,500 acres (18 km²) of land, Shelby Farms is the largest urban park in the United States,http://www.shelbycountytn.gov Shelby County Internet Portal] it covers more than five times the area of Central Park in New York City with 843 acres (3.4 km²).

Several lakes, natural forests, and the wetlands of the Wolf River are situated in hilly surroundings.

Wildlife

Wildlife including beavers, deer, turtles, tortoises and different species of birds can be observed in their natural environment. Although the park is surrounded by routes used by commuter traffic, smaller species can still find habitats large enough to survive.

Shelby Farms park is home to a bison herd and to a few Texas longhorn (cattle).

History

19th century

In 1825, Frances Wright's Nashoba Experiment was formed on parts of what is modern day Shelby Farms park. On 2,000 acres (8 km²) of woodland, humanist reformer Frances Wright, an opponent of slavery, founded a multi-racial commune of slaves, free blacks and whites to prepare slaves and former slaves for their future freedom. Wright believed in the emancipation of slaves by providing education for them in practical and cultural skills.http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/sfpc/view-master-plan SFPC Master Plan]

Remains of an early settlement from the late 19th century can be found at the eastern tip of Shelby Farms park, consisting of ruins of a residential building, a disintegrated barn, car wrecks dating from the 1950s and 1960s, old fences and a family burial site.

In 2005, the family burial site of the Mann family exists with just one grave marker remaining. The last two documented deaths, as indicated on that remaining gravestone, date back to November 25 1891 for Robert W Mann and December 5 1891 for Mary S Mann. Five or more graves are marked only by their base stones. [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/cemeteries/mann.txt - RootsWeb]

Shelby County accquired 1,600 acres (6.5 km²) of land in 1928 for use as a penal farm. How and when the remaining formerly private property of 2,900 acres (12 km²) was incorporated into what is now Shelby Farms park is unknown.

Penal farm

From 1929 until 1964 Shelby Farms was used as a penal farm, in which the prisoners of the Shelby County Jail were involved in agricultural labor to provide food for inmates and staff, or to sell overproduction for profit on behalf of the state of Tennessee. [http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/Nov/22/calvin-anderson-an-opportunity-to-be-heard-on/ Commercial Appeal, Memphis]

Parts of Shelby Farms are still used as a semi penal farm. Some inmates of the Shelby County Jail as well as individuals sentenced to community service are required to do yard work to keep Shelby Farms fields in shape or to pick up litter on nearby streets.

ince the 1970s

In the 1970s the Shelby County Commission opened the area for recreational purposes.

The Shelby Farms Park Alliance (SFPA) was granted a conservation easement by the Shelby County Commission in December 2006. The easement restricts commercial and residential development in the park area for 50 years. [http://www.sfparkalliance.org/the-history-of-shelby-farms-park/ Shelby Farms Park Alliance (SFPA) conservation effort] [http://www.memphisbioworks.org/newsroom_article_2007_0110_CA.php MemphisBioworks.org Article]

In 2007, an agreement was signed between the Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton and the SFPA, forming the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (SFPC), a public and private non-profit partnership established by Shelby County government to help provide day-to-day operations of the park and to develop a planning process for the future of Shelby Farms park. [http://www.sfparkalliance.org/2007/07/ Management agreement between SFPA and Shelby County] [http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/ Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (SFPC)]

Future

A masterplan was put in place in 2008 to direct a major re-design of the park. An extension of Patriot Lake is planned to accommodate for more boating and surfing activities and to extend the paved trail around the lake. Additional hiking and biking trails are proposed and 1,000,000 new trees are planned to be planted to make Shelby Farms a park of the 21st century.

Recreation

Hiking and biking trails meandering through the park allow visitors to observe wildlife and nature. Catch'em Lake is a designated artificial fishing lake, and on two other lakes rowing boats are allowed. On one of latter two lakes, Patriot Lake, pedal boats can be rented. There is a 1.67 mile (2.7 km) paved trail around Patriot Lake.

Horseback riding is allowed in parts of the park and on a few trails, horses can be rented as well. A designated runway to start and land miniature radio control aircraft is present in the park for public use.

An 18 hole disk golf course is located near the welcome center of the park. [http://www.memphisdiscgolf.com/cms/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=28 Disk golf in Shelby Farms Park]

Shelby Farms also has the Agricenter Showplace Arena hosting indoor soccer events and is home to a Farmers' Market.

ee also

*Nashoba Commune
*Frances Wright

References

External links

* [http://www.sfparkalliance.org Shelby Farms Park Allliance] (SFPA), citizen organization working to help Shelby Farms Park realize its full potential for the residents of Memphis and Shelby County.
* [http://midsouthtrails.com/midsouthtrails/shelby_farms.html Maps of trails in Shelby Farms park]
* [http://www.wolfriver.org Wolf River Conservancy]