Shelby Farms
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shelby Farms | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | |
| Size | 4,500 acres (18 km²) |
| Opened | 1970s |
| Operated by | Shelby Farms Park Conservancy |
| Status | Open all year from dawn to dusk |
Shelby Farms is one of the largest urban parks 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).
The land that forms Shelby Farms park was derived from property that had been privately owned in the late 19th century. 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.
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.
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[edit] Geography
Encompassing about 4,500 acres (18 km²) of land, Shelby Farms is one of the largest urban parks in the United States,[1] 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.
[edit] Wildlife
Wildlife like 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).
[edit] History
[edit] Late 19th century
At the eastern end of Shelby Farms park, remains of a small early settlement from the late 19th century can be found, 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.[2]
How and when this formerly private property was incorporated into what is now Shelby Farms park is unknown.
[edit] 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.[3][1]
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.
[edit] Since the 1970s
In the 1970s the Shelby County Commission opened the area for recreational purposes.[1]
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.[4][5]
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.[6][7]
[edit] 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.[8]
Shelby Farms also has the Agricenter Showplace Arena hosting indoor soccer events and is home to a Farmers' Market.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c http://www.shelbycountytn.gov Shelby County Internet Portal
- ^ http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/cemeteries/mann.txt - RootsWeb
- ^ http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/Nov/22/calvin-anderson-an-opportunity-to-be-heard-on/ Commercial Appeal, Memphis
- ^ 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
- ^ http://www.sfparkalliance.org/2007/07/ Management agreement between SFPA and Shelby County
- ^ http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/ Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (SFPC)
- ^ http://www.memphisdiscgolf.com/cms/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=28 Disk golf in Shelby Farms Park
[edit] External links
- Shelby Farms is at coordinates Coordinates:
- 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.
- Maps of trails in Shelby Farms park
- Wolf River Conservancy
