Overton Park vehicle closure update

Overton Park has remained open throughout the City of Memphis’s stay-at-home orders, although the park roads were closed to vehicles on April 1. These road closures had the intended effect of discouraging large gatherings and keeping the number of visitors within a level that allows safe social distancing.

With the Memphis Zoo scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, May 13, vehicle barricades have moved from the middle of Morrie Moss Lane to the intersections with Golf Drive, Museum Drive, and Veterans Plaza Drive behind Levitt Shell (see map below). This will keep vehicular traffic limited to Zoo visitors for now. Please refrain from parking on the east side of Morrie Moss Lane, as this road is needed for public safety and emergency vehicles.

We anticipate that the City will reopen park roads to vehicles within a couple of weeks, depending on how well park visitors are demonstrating the ability to maintain social distancing within the park and on the trajectory of new COVID-19 cases in Shelby County. The reopening of playgrounds, pavilions, and the dog park will also depend on the trajectory of new COVID-19 cases.

We ask that you remain vigilant in protecting yourselves and your fellow community members by always maintaining at least six feet of distance between you and other park visitors, always wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently or using hand sanitizer, and staying home if you feel ill. If you are visiting the park, you can currently park in the neighborhoods surrounding the park and walk, roll, bike, run, skip, or cartwheel into the park.