Latest News
Stories: Nicole Dorsey
Nicole Dorsey is a Memphis artist, and the Art Education Coordinator for Carpenter Art Garden, right down the street from Overton Park in Binghampton. As part of our Overton Park Stories project, she shared with Dawn Vinson how her relationship to the park has evolved over her lifetime. My family has deep roots in Memphis. […]
Overton Park moves forward
This story originally appeared in our Fall 2021 newsletter. As we celebrate 50 years since the progress of Interstate 40 through Overton Park was halted by a Supreme Court victory, Overton Park Conservancy is looking toward the next 50 years. Our comprehensive park planning process has been underway for a few years now, with much […]
NatureZen: Slow It Down
Words and photos by Melissa McMasters At the end of a string of chaotic days recently, an Instagram scroll brought me to a gentle reminder. In the Northern hemisphere, we’re heading into the shortest days of the year, and therefore the most darkness. As animals, our biology is telling us to slow down, be still, and […]
St. Jude Marathon is this Saturday!
Overton Park Conservancy is thrilled to welcome the runners of this year’s St. Jude Memphis Marathon to the park once again on Saturday, December 4, 2021. This year, the runners will be doing a double loop through the park, entering at Poplar and Tucker, passing by Levitt Shell and Rust Hall via Veterans Plaza Drive, […]
Parking project back on hold as new funds sought
The Zoo parking lot expansion has been paused again, as City officials, Overton Park Conservancy, and the Memphis Zoo work together to identify potential sources of funds for a parking deck. After years of negotiation, compromise, and fundraising, the project to expand the Zoo’s parking lots began in 2019 with the reconfiguring of the Prentiss […]
NatureZen: Could It Be…Actual Fall?
Have you ordered your 2021 NatureZen notecards yet? Place your orders by November 10 to ensure timely delivery before the holidays! Every year after the calendar tells us that fall has officially arrived, we experience a few days of glorious crisp temperatures followed by the cruel return of heat and humidity. The meme about Memphis’s […]
Return to 2018 parking plan announced
Last week, it was announced that the Zoo’s parking lot reconfiguration project was set to resume in 2022, after a two-year pause. We understand why this news came as a surprise to many people. The plan that is now set to move forward is the compromise solution that was agreed upon in 2018. Phase 1 of that plan, […]
NatureZen notecards are back!
It’s time once again to send the beauty of the Old Forest to a friend! As a holiday gift to yourself or a loved one, pre-order a set of notecards featuring six of our favorite photos from the past year of our NatureZen series. For $24, you’ll receive a 12-pack of cards (two of each […]
Stories: Abigail Teamer
Overton Park Stories: Abigail Teamer My story with Overton Park begins unconventionally compared to most visitors. Growing up in Bartlett, I usually went to one of the local neighborhood parks for outdoor play. However, this changed when I started working with my uncle’s janitorial company, Pinnacle Perpetual Services. After he signed a cleaning contract with […]
NatureZen: All Eyes on Me
words and photos by Melissa McMasters One of the things that fascinates me most as a naturalist is the ways animals have evolved their appearances over time to suit some specific purpose. Last summer, we explored how moths camouflage themselves to blend perfectly into their habitats, hiding themselves from their many predators. But other creatures […]