Recap of today’s parking steering committee meeting

The parking steering committee heard three excellent presentations today from teams led by LRK, A2H, and Powers Hill Design. The committee will announce its choice soon, and we’ll let you know as soon as a decision has been made. In the meantime, we wanted to tell you a few of the things that excited us about these presentations.

Although all the teams approached it in their own ways, a common theme was the implementation of cutting-edge technology to improve the parking process. By providing visitors with more information about available parking, wait times could be substantially reduced. This in turn would lead to less traffic congestion on park roads, and fewer interactions between cars, bikes, and pedestrians.

All the teams shared ideas about low-impact design principles, including using landscape elements that add shade, filter stormwater, and reduce the heat island effect produced by large surface parking lots.

All the teams shared an enthusiasm for Overton Park and its attractions, and for engaging the public in the design process. It’s clear that no matter which team is chosen, this project will be in the hands of people who understand the park and care about its visitors.

Stay tuned to the City’s parking website at www.memphistn.gov/parkingplan for updates.