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Imagine the future of the park (and get a look at its new parcel)

General Services AreaWe’ve already told you about some opportunities at A Day of Merrymaking to be artistic, but there’s another important way we’re hoping you’ll engage your imagination: by contributing ideas to our park master plan, currently in progress.

Look for the light bulb sign next to the Overton Park Conservancy booth, and you’ll meet the team working to engage the community in planning for the park’s future. We’re asking you to spend three minutes with us sharing your ideas about any of these topics:

  • Establishing the park’s role in Memphis
  • Building loyalty with communications
  • Curating public activity for a diverse park community
  • Fine-tuning park amenities and guidelines
  • Developing key additions to the park experience

Our master plan will also involve generating ideas for the 13-acre parcel at the southeast corner of the park that is currently being vacated by the City of Memphis. If you’d like to take a look at the site, you can park there during A Day of Merrymaking and take a free FedEx shuttle or Explore Bike Share bicycle to the festival. (Here are all the transportation options for the festival.) The General Services Area is located at 281 E. Parkway N., just north of Poplar Avenue.

The General Services Area is currently home to a number of buildings, including one built during the Works Progress Administration Area, as well as three greenhouses. It will take some imagination to determine how to convert it from a vehicle maintenance facility to a place for the community to gather, so if you want to get a head start in thinking about the possibilities, come take a look around on Saturday! Just make sure you’re back at your vehicle by 4:30 PM, when the gates of the facility will lock.

A Day of Merrymaking is Saturday, October 6 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the Greensward. Invite your friends!