Zoo fees

The park has been in the news a lot recently. Yesterday's surprise (to me) Sunday banner headline in the Commercial Appeal was a story taking the zoo to task for having fees that are too high. This doesn't affect my world too often, but it is awfully high to take a family unless you go often enough to get the annual pass.

The worst thing, from my point of view, is that not only does the zoo park on the Greensward at will, but they're allowed to keep the $5 fee per car for their general fund instead of giving that money back to the park. Above is a satellite photo of the Greensward last season, and even from that height, you can see the damage that the parking does. Any fees coming in from parking on the park should go to the park, and not to the zoo.

Hopefully the Conservancy will figure out a way to get them a garage soon. Hopefully they will also get an easement passed to protect the green spaces of the park and ensure that the zoo won't come back in 10 years and say that the parking garage is full and that they now need to park on the Greensward again. The zoo doesn't want to spend their own money on a garage, in spite of taking over so much park money through the years. Before we hand over a garage to the zoo, a permanent, legal contract (ideally protecting the rest of the green spaces of the park as well) needs to be in place banning them from ever using the Greensward as parking again. The zoo has said that they're in favor of such an easement and has been working with Park Friends on drafts for years now, and I hope the Conservancy will put their weight behind it as well.

Maintenace Area Pondered

St. Jude wants to take over the downtown city/general services maintenance area near its campus, and the city is beginning to think about moving both it and the one in Overton Park to one consolidated location. The zoo has ideas about what might be a good use for that space. They want overflow parking first and foremost.

I think a better plan would be to have them build a garage (instead of continuing to add surface asphalt to the park) in their current staff parking/maintenance area, inside the current zoo footprint, and let them use a part of the maintenance area for greenhouses or whatever they need (provided they provide much more appropriate screening for other park users than they have been willing to along their other park boundary fences) and keep most of that area for park. Jimmy Jalenak of the zoo has been actively promoting this plan, but the tricky bit is finding funds for a parking garage (which is never as high on the zoo's list of priorities for its money as the new, sparkly exhibits).

The current masterplan has a second greensward in the Southeast corner of the park, and we need more free, open space in the park. Maybe we could put up soccer goals again, since the zoo never returned the ones to the Greensward that they removed for parking. Soccer was a highly popular activity until we lost the goals.

The CA has an article beginning the pubic debate. Let your voice be heard by the city!

Zoo announces new policies

The zoo released new attendance policies today in the wake of Tuesday's chaotic free day. Read them here.

Park Media Coverage continues

In addition to three letters to the editor in favor of legal protection for Overton Park, the main editorial today was on Tuesday's chaos that led to the brief closing of the park. I'm glad to see the park getting so much public attention, and I hope this leads to real change in the park, both permanent, legal protection and some rethinking of a few zoo policies (esp. parking on the Greensward) that takes the needs of the park and the surrounding neighborhoods into account.

I've had several email exchanges with zoo leaders who are looking for creative alternatives to the current free day structure, and hopefully they are also making progress on their quest to find an off-site parking area to supplement their main lot. It's past time for the Greensward to be for picnics, not parking.

Good litter pick-up by the zoo

I walked to the Greensward this morning after the 25,000+ influx into the park yesterday fully expecting to find the area trashed and was pleasantly surprised. The zoo has been taking the litter left on the Greensward by its patrons much more seriously this year. They've routinely been putting out a dozen or so trash boxes, scattered around the Greensward, on the days they encroach with their parking, and it's made a huge difference. They've also got their crews clearing up any trash in a more timely manner, which I'm very grateful for.

By 9:30 this morning the zoo's side of the Greensward looked lovely. There was an uptick of litter over the "line of demarcation" from the Doughboy to the sign by the lake that marks off the section where they park. This litter wasn't there yesterday, so it's fair to assume that at least some of it was the record zoo crowd, but there wasn't nearly as much as I would have expected, and the zoo did a great job of cleaning up their end of things. This has been a much bigger problem in years past, and I truly appreciate their addressing it and withdrawing from the Greensward leaving it looking as good as they found it on parking overflow days.

Natural Area Conversation

There's been a bit of back and forth lately on the CA editorial page about the proposed natural area legislation that's pending with the state. Naomi Van Tol of CPOP wrote a guest column last week arguing that the zoo's self-proclaimed interest in conservation and forestry should lead them to support this bill. Today's response by Chuck Brady, CEO of the zoo, said that the natural area would be too restrictive (control of the park in Nashville instead of Memphis) and that the city should institute a conservation easement instead.

Park Friends had a good discussion about this issue at our latest meeting. Historically the city has done a very bad job of protecting our most important park. "Do we need a new fire station? Let's cut some trees and put it in the park. Do we need a maintenace area/offices/new ADA building? Let's cut some trees and put them in the park? New senior center? Let's cut some trees and put it in the park." (Fortunately, Park Friends battled that one down.) "The zoo needs a new exhibit? Let's cut some trees and put it in the park." It is way past time for the city to step up and institute permanent, legal protection for Overton Park, and if the city isn't willing, Overton Park is precious enough that the state should do it instead.

With the natural area legislation hanging over their heads, the city and the zoo together are proposing a conservation easement instead. Park Friends has strongly suggested that if the city wants to pre-empt this legislation, they should protect more of the park than the proposed legislation does. We think the city should include the priceless Greensward in any easement instead of just covering the Old Forest. The Greensward does not meet the requirements for a state natural area, but it could easily be included in a local easement, and it has been threatened so many times that it, too, deserves protection.

The zoo argues that the natural area legislation is too restrictive for the city park usage that Overton Park gets (biking, jogging, roads through the forest). Many natural areas are quite restrictive, but each legislated area has a specific master plan written that is tailored to its needs. If the legislation goes through, we as citizens need to stay involved in the process and make sure that the master plan reflects our busy urban park, but both Senator Marrero and Representative Richardson, who are sponsoring the bill, have told me that they don't wish to restrict the park in any way, only to protect it for future generations. We also need to make sure that any city-written easement is strong enough to protect the park.

I think legal protection in either form is a wonderful step forward for the park, but Park Friends calls on the city to step up and do more than the natural area could and include the Greensward in any easement plan that they write. It is time to protect both the Old Forest and the Greensward for all Memphians in times to come.

Urban Green Spaces Improve Health

A recent Dutch study has concluded that people living within one kilometer of green space had improved health in 15 out of 24 conditions, even after researchers adjusted for other health factors. Respiratory and depression/anxiety disorders were particularly affected, suggesting that the physical factor of cleaner air and the emotional benefit of being near nature both contributed. The study looked at people within a 3 kilometer radius of parks, and the benefit was greatest for those withing 1 kilometer, which makes sense to me, because the thing I prize most about my neighborhood is that I'm only three blocks from Overton Park. However, anxiety symptoms, infectious diseases of the digestive system and medically unexplained symptoms were relieved even with green spaces that were farther from the home.

The healthy influence was greatest for children and least for the elderly, who as a group do not get out of their homes as easily as other demographics. Children were 21% less likely to suffer from depression if they lived near green areas.

Dr Jolanda Maas of the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, said: "It clearly shows that green spaces are not just a luxury but they relate directly to diseases and the way people feel in their living environments. Most of the diseases which are related to green spaces are diseases which are highly prevalent and costly to treat so policy makers need to realize that this is something they may be able to diminish with green spaces."

Memphis, near the bottom of the nation for city land devoted to parks, needs to treasure and maintain the parkland we have while looking for opportunities to expand it. I would also argue that we need to stop using the green spaces we do have as overflow parking lots, a sporadic problem at several parks and an ongoing problem in Overton Park with zoo parking on the one big meadow every nice weekend. Brian Carter from the zoo told Park Friends last night that the zoo is diligently seeking a solution that will replace the system of depriving Overton Park of its peaceful meadow during every beautiful weekend day of the year (and a good many other days besides). I hope they can come up with this solution quickly. This situation has gone on too long already and is only getting worse as the zoo's popularity builds.

Read more about this study here and here.

Lick Creek Update

Mary Cashiola's article in the Flyer was a good overview, but I thought I'd add some photos and a little more detail about the two possible dams on the zoo end.

The main plan of widening the box culvert under Poplar and widening a couple of bridges just downstream of Poplar in the park (the golf course area) seems to be set, but all that widening lets in a lot more water at once, in order to relieve the flooding in Belleair Circle. The trouble at the zoo end is that all that water would smash into the zoo, which is already having flooding issues.

The original plan submitted by the engineers had a dam running along the fence between the zoo and its parking lot, beginning just to the right of the entrance plaza (photo above). There's already a fence here, and just a line of scrub hollies (photo below), so it makes sense as a place to put a wall, that would need to be five or so feet high.

However, the zoo has recently requested that the wall be pushed to the very fringe of their parking lot and run around the edge of the Greensward, either on top or just outside the line of maturing oaks that are growing there as a screen (photo below).
These oaks (below) that jut out into the line of the parking lot might be lost all together, even if the engineers save the ones inside the small fence around the existing culvert (above).
Pushing this concrete wall/dam to the edge of the Greensward moves the dam to lower ground, meaning that a textured concrete wall will rise to be 6-8 feet high in most places instead of the lower height that would be necessary where a fence already exists along the front of the zoo. It will be an intrusive visual barrier to those using the Greensward and may well destroy many of the trees around the edge of the Greensward, either through cutting them down or damage during construction or a higher amount of standing water around their roots.

The zoo wants to keep every square inch of its parking lot out of the flood plain, even though that small, far corner of its lot is in the flood plain under existing conditions, as are many roads and parking areas in other parts of Midtown. The zoo, unlike these other roads and lots, has daily parking attendants who could cone the area off on days when rain is predicted (and the entire lot is never needed on rainy days), and they also have a loudspeaker system that could announce possible flooding if heavy rains come and warn people to move their cars.

The Lick Creek Coalition, excepting only the zoo's representative, voted to urge the city to stay with its original plan. Since the zoo is benefitting from the flood control, they should be willing to have some small part of the necessary construction in their part of the park instead of pushing it all out to the Greensward and golf course. The zoo is looking at further options and will be meeting again this month with the neighborhood and park groups that comprise the Lick Creek Coalition to see if they can come up with a plan that doesn't intrude so strongly on the Greensward. We look forward to hearing their ideas.

Teton Trek Opens

Brian Carter, the zoo staffer who's on our board at Park Friends sent along these photos for the blog. Teton Trek opened this weekend to the general public, along with its much anticipated orphaned bear cubs. It also contains wolves (further down) and a lodge meant to evoke the iconic grand lodge at Yellowstone (below).
It's been a rocky road to Teton Trek for the zoo, but the exhibit looks to be marvelous from the inside. I'm looking forward to seeing the bear cubs on my return to Memphis. They will be an asset to the city, and it's good recognition for both Memphis and our zoo that we were chosen to receive them.

Sadly, the exhibit looks less than marvelous from the backside, which is the side of itself that it shows to walkers, bikers, and everyone else enjoying our native Old Forest in Overton Park. Even a number of zoo lovers in the neighborhood have remarked on how ugly the forest road has become with the zoo building storage buildings right out to the road. They were supposed to leave a screen of trees but expanded right up to the fence instead. Brian answered my question about screening and said that the landscaping guys were supposed to be planting some screening plants within the next week, weather permitting. There's not much space left for screening plants, but hopefully now that the rush to get the front of the exhibit ready is over, the zoo will put some serious thought into how to make the back of the exhibit more attractive for their neighbors.
Because of the public backlash over both the clearcutting and the current appearance of Teton Trek, the zoo is working hard to solicit community feedback on their plans for Chickasaw Bluffs, the last of the Old Forest area that is behind their fence. Please take a moment to look at their proposed plan and submit your thoughts on the project.

Birds and Bees extended

The weather is lovely, warm enough for the budgies still, so the excellent Birds and Bees exhibit has been extended for a bit. Take advantage of this opportunity to get over and feed the birds one more time before fall nips the air.

Birds and Bees at the zoo -- ends Labor Day

The Birds and the Bees exhibit, where you can feed the budgies up close and personal, is the runaway hit of the summer at the Zoo. The exhibit ends on Labor Day, so get on out and feed some birds while they're still in town. Morning is best, when they haven't been eating all day, but anytime you can get there to see the jewel-toned birds sitting on the dowel right in front of your face (maybe even in your hands or your lap) is worth the price of admission.

Rainbow Lake Fish and Turtle Release

Fourteen turtles were fostered over in the zoo during the work on Rainbow Lake, and there was a ceremonial release back into the lake today. Here they are awaiting the return to their habitat.
There was a great turtle race, lining them all up on the far side of the sidewalk to see who could make the lake first. The largest turtle was raring to go and made it in before I could get a photo, but here's one of the later ones finding his way back into the water.

And another, making his escape from a life of captivity.
Volunteer Kim Hill springs a handful of snail from their confinement.

And finally, with many thanks due to them, a group of the hardworking zoo staff who captured, nurtured, and returned thousands of fish and other wildlife, keeping Rainbow Lake as natural a waterway as a concrete wading pool can aspire to be. Park users are in their debt for preventing the wholesale fish suffocation that happened last time the lake had to be drained.

One more chance to come play in Rainbow Lake!

Rescuing fish in Rainbow Lake with nets.
Adding caught fish to the tanks in the truck.
Our first turtle rescue.

The Zoo-directed rescue effort in Rainbow Lake today netted 15 turtles and many mosquito fish as well as some sunfish, snails, and other shellfish. The pumping of the lake took a bit longer than originally thought, however, so we're having one more day of wading fun tomorrow starting at noon. Come out and join us if you can. Wear galoshes and bring a net if you have one. I just resurrected my grandfather's fishing net and will mend the holes tonight in preparation for tomorrow. We had a blast today -- come join the party tomorrow and see what else besides a rubber chicken we find on the bottom of the lake.

Volunteer Call makes CA

The zoo got some good publicity on the front of the Local News section for its good deed as it gears up to rescue many fish and turtles from Rainbow Lake and foster them over in tanks until the lake is up and running again. City workers will begin draining the lake Monday, and Tuesday from 10-4, the zoo will coordinate volunteers catching and transporting fish for safe-keeping. Volunteers 18 and over wearing galoshes and outdoor work clothes (and sun hats) are being sought by the Zoo. To volunteer, e-mail Brandy Weigandt at bweigandt@memphiszoo.org or call at 333-6654.

Zoo's Early Plans for Chickasaw Bluffs

The Zoo just posted preliminary plans for a boardwalk in the portion of the Old Forest that they have behind their fence. They are soliciting opinions from the public, which is a good change of policy from the Teton Trek days, so please take advantage of this opportunity to give them feedback. I'll post more information here as I get it. Click on the pictured image (once you're on their site) to see a slideshow of four drawings of the plans. They also have photos of similar area boardwalks, including the lovely Rossville Wolf River wetlands boardwalk that is well worth a visit if you haven't seen it.

Volunteers Needed Tuesday!

The repair work on Rainbow Lake is coming up next week, and a number of park users have asked me what happens to the fish.  I checked with Brian Carter, the zoo publicity guy who sits on our board, and he and the marine curators have graciously agreed to help out with this problem.  The Zoo is going to temporarily relocate the lake's fish and amphibians to the Zoo exhibits and holding tanks, but it's a big job, and they'll need help catching the fish.

Brian says they've bought a large number of nets and need volunteers on Tuesday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help out.  Volunteers ages 18 and older who are interested in helping should email Brandy Weigandt at bweigandt@memphiszoo.org. Outdoor work clothes and rubber boots are strongly recommended.

Please help spread the word, since we don't have a lot of time to publicize this effort.

Heartbreak at the zoo

The baby elephant died this morning after mother Asali accidentally injured the baby with her tusk. What a sad day for the zoo and all of Memphis and especially the new mother. Read the CA story here.

New baby elephant at the zoo!

The zoo welcomed its new baby elephant with a pink ribbon on the elephant statue out front. The baby and mother are doing well, but they won't be on display for a few weeks, until they settle in. The calf is the first ever in the history of the zoo. Read the CA article here.