Parks&
The Official Newsletter of the City of Memphis Division of Parks & Neighborhoods Winter Edition 2013
Neighborhoods Bridging the Gap Between Parks and Neighborhoods
MPLIC Job LINC Career Center
Plough Foundation grant helps make vision a reality
Lewis Center Turns 40 J.K. Lewis Senior Center Celebrates 40 years
Wolf River Greenway Phase II Urban Art Celebrates
The Memphis Wave Features: Music Commission Executive Director Johnnie Walker - MAS Logo Winner Truegreen Southside Park Partnership - KIPP Memphis Collegiate Elementary School
Lewis Center turns 40 J.K. Lewis Senior Center Celebrates 40 years On Saturday, October 6th, Memphis Public Library & Information Center hosted its annual Bookstock Book Festival from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. The event featured 50 adult and children’s authors. The keynote speaker was Kristen Iversen, author of Full Body Burden, a beau-
tiful memoir that recognizes the inevitable intrusion of greater social forces in all our lives and the risk we take in ignoring them. In addition to the author talk, there was a cooking demonstration, prizes, book signings, face painting, mural making, Teen Zine, performance art, food trucks, and live music by Stereo Joe.
A
ging is a privilege, not a predicament. And since its inception, the Lewis
Center has been the heartbeat that has allowed our seniors to continue to thrive in their golden years. Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Josephine K. Lewis Center, Mayor Wharton proclaimed October 15-19 as Josephine Lewis Center Week. Dedicated in the honor of the vision of Josephine Lewis, on October 16, 1972 the center created the first multi-purpose senior
E-mail:
parksinfo@memphistn.gov
The success of this center can be attributed to the capable leadership of Center Director Ms. Terrie Kirksey. Director Kirksey has tirelessly worked at the Lewis Center for 28 years, more than half of the Lewis Center’s existence, to provide diverse programming and has made extra efforts to ensure that the needs of our seniors are not only addressed but met. Her successor has some big shoes to fill. We look forward to many more years of continued service and commitment at the J.K. Lewis Center!
center of significant size in West Tennessee.
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@MEMparks_nbhds @ MemphisLibrary @MusicCommission @MemphisMuseums @MemphisBotanic @MemphisZoo @BrooksMuseum www.parks.memphistn.gov www.memphislibrary.org www.memphismusic.org www.memphismuseums.org www.memphisbotanicgarden.com www.memphiszoo.org www.brooksmuseum.org
City of Memphis Parks and Neighborhoods
Hollywood Community Center seniors celebrated Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink, enjoying pink colored desserts and releasing pink balloons in honor of our continued support and commitment to the fight to find a cure for breast cancer.
Parks and Neighborhoods Message from the Director’s Bench
Happy New Year! Yes, we survived 2012. In fact, we thrived because of the incredible hard work, creativity, and dedication of our staff, and volunteers. As the New Year begins, we are very excited and look forward to what lies ahead of us. The Division of Parks and Neighborhoods supports an active civic culture reflective of the diversity of the community’s voice. Our mission is to initiate strategically sound, positive programming and policies that will meet and exceed citizen expectations in order to deliver City services in the best manner possible. One wonderful attribute that is unique to our Division is the variety of services and programming we offer our citizens.
Parks and Neighborhoods
truly is a division for the people and as you look through this edition you will see just how our employees are responding to the needs of our community. Whether it is working in tandem with local partners to refresh a park; providing low
Deputy Director Joseph Lee, Director Janet P. Hooks and Deputy Director LaSonya Hall, Deputy Director Larry Smith (not pictured)
cost vaccinations for our animal population; or providing gifts, coats and food during the holiday season for the less fortunate, we are continuously working to stand in the gaps for many of our residents. Our park facilities, libraries, recreation centers, golf courses, and other facilities and special services provide a comprehensive suite of cultural, educational, informative and life-enhancing programs and services that improve the quality of life for all segments of our community. Enjoy this edition! And, please feel free to e-mail your thoughts, comments, ideas, suggestions or good news to parks.info@memphistn.gov. Yours in Service,
Division of Parks and Neighborhoods Janet P. Hooks, Director Janet P. Hooks, Director
Logo Contest Winner Announced In an effort to rebrand and positively polish its image, Memphis Animal Services conducted a logo competition seeking members of the public to design a symbol that was reflective of its services and commitment to the animal population of our city. The winner, Jennifer Pittman, was selected using a panel of area design professionals. Not only will her design be used in future branding, Pittman was awarded the opportunity to adopt the animal of her choice, one month’s supply of pet food, and a $50 dollar Petco gift card.
Jennifer Pittman was selected as the logo contest winner.
Deputy Directors Dr. LaSonya Hall Joseph Lee Larry Smith Produced by the Office of Public Relations Allison Johnson Fouché
Editor-in-Chief - Creative Director
Contributors:
Timothy Harris Stephanie Nerissa White Kevin Wilson
Photo credits:
Ashley Burton Charles Cannon jeanne Chancellor Allison J. Fouché Stephanie Nerissa White
Library Unveils New JobLINC Bus Thanks to the Plough Foundation, the Memphis Public Library will be able to take job and career services to all corners of Memphis.
From left to right: Diane Jalfon, Ron Coleman. Kennon McCloy, Janet P. Hooks, Courtney Robinson, Robyn Stone, Diane Rudner, Scott McCormick, and George Little.
The Memphis Public Library & Information Center is pleased to announce
The bus will serve more than 12,000 customers a year, providing one-
the arrival of its new JobLINC mobile bus. This state-of-the-art vehicle
on-one assistance with job searches, training opportunities, resume
will travel to community centers, library branches, grocery stores, and
preparation, and on-line applications. It will travel to multiple locations
other public areas throughout the city to help citizens find employment.
throughout the city five days a week to provide help. The unit will be equipped with computers, printers, Internet access, and job resource
The new mobile unit is environmentally friendly, featuring solar panels,
materials.
LED lighting, and a clean fuel engine. It is also ADA compliant and is equipped with a wheelchair lift. The vehicle houses ten computer work-
The
Memphis
stations with Internet access and printers as well as private interview
the
Plough
area and media equipment for training purposes.
JobLINC vehicle.
Library
Foundation
Foundation
for
the
received
a
purchase
grant
from
the
new
of
Library Director Keenon McCloy said, “We are extremely grateful to the Plough Foundation for supporting this important project. The support services that the Library is able to provide through JobLINC are truly essential in these difficult economic times. Thanks to the Plough Foundation, the Memphis Public Library will be able to take job and career services to all corners of Memphis and make a significant impact in our community with this mobile service vehicle.� Please click the link to view the JobLINC press event http://vimeo.com/52182975
Kaliyah Heffner, a student at KIPP Memphis Collegiate Elementary, is one of the young swimmers benefiting from the Splash Mid-South program offered at the Bickford Aquatic Center by the City of Memphis Aquatics Department.
City of Memphis
Swim Academy The youth drowning rate in ethnically diverse communities is two to three times higher than the national average. Unfortunately, nearly 60 percent of African-American and Hispanic children are unable to swim. Aquatics Supervisor Lendzo Parker coaches students
As part of an ongoing effort to bring awareness and education to this epidemic, the City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods has partnered with KIPP Collegiate Elementary to provide kindergartners free swim lessons at Bickford Aquatic Center. The two-week swim sessions provided students with basic water awareness and helped open the door to a lifelong skill and hobby. The City of Memphis Aquatics Department is a major training and swim-lesson provider to many underserved children and offers the most affordable swim lessons to the public. This effort was sponsored by Splash Mid-South at Bickford Aquatic Centers. Click here for coverage: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/dec/05/city-of-memphis-swim-academy/
Dr. John Shea presents his professional papers to the Memphis Public Library
Dr. Shea is known for having made the first successful reconstruc-
By Stephanie Nerissa White
removal of the diseased stapes, the covering of the oval window utiliz-
tive stapedectomy in May of 1956. His patient was a housewife who had suffered progressive hearing loss that rendered even her hearing aid useless. Because of Dr. Shea’s procedure, the fifty-four year old woman completely regained her hearing. The actual surgery included ing a vein graft from the back of the patient's hand and the insertion of a teflon prosthesis (pioneered by Shea) to replace the defective bone in her ear. With the success of stapedectomy, Dr. Shea became an overnight sensation in the medical world and propelled his lifetime work to advance the treatment of hearing loss, dizziness and other ear disease. Now, after retiring from active practice in April of 2011, Shea is sharing his "entire life's work" with Memphis and the world by donating his manuscripts and journal articles to the Library, where they will be available for researchers and medical historians to study. These publications span a period of 1949-2003 and reflect collaboration with his father in the beginning, and ending with Dr. Shea co-authoring a
Throughout the course of his life, Dr. John Shea, Jr. has made major historical breakthroughs and advancements in medicine. On Tuesday, November 13, 2012, Dr. Shea donated 406 papers including over 300 published articles to the Memphis Public Library's Memphis Room that, he noted, reflect the breadth of his work and perfection of his craft along the way. The Library is thrilled to have his entire professional work -- papers he has written that document and demonstrate the legacy of a man whose work has revolutionized modern medicine.
chapter in a book entitled “Surgery of the Ear” with his son, Dr. Paul Shea. “We are tremendously honored that Dr. Shea wanted to share these papers with the Memphis community and world at large. Dr. Shea’s legacy will live on forever as a result of his generosity and the meticulous records he has provided for public viewing,” said Keenon McCloy, Director of the Memphis Public Library and Information Center. According to Wayne Dowdy, Senior Manager of the History and Social Services Department, Dr. Shea's papers will be housed in the Memphis/Shelby County Room on the fourth floor of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.
Memphis Animal Services Vaccination Drive The MAS Vaccination Drive was a HUGE success and serviced over 200 animals. Lines formed at 6:30 a.m. and the wait time was approximately 5 minutes long. Kudos to the staff of Animal Services for their efforts to keep animals healthy in the Mid-South. Upcoming MAS Adoption Events Yappy Hour Every Thursday 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
January 19th, 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Petco at Poplar and Highland
January 26th, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Petco at Stage and Bartlett Blvd.
The Project Community Cat (TNR) program funded by a grant from SPCA generated 88 spays/neuters from OctoberDecember 2012. Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) has proven to be a long-term solution to humanely controlling cat populations. Implementing TNR programs help keep cats out of the shelter system.
City of Memphis Parks and Neighborhoods
TruGreen, The Works, and Grizzlies improve South Memphis park Maintaining our city’s green spaces requires more than just mowing and cutting. It takes time and attention, and because of a new partnership between public, private, and non-profit entities, Southside Park (located at South Parkway East in South Memphis) is getting a makeover. “Publicprivate partnerships like these leverage our resources and enhance our capacity to address the needs of our neighborhoods” stated Janet P. Hooks, Director of Parks and Neighborhoods. “This partnership with The Works, TruGreen and the Grizzlies will assist us in attaining our goal of creating safe and vibrant neighborhoods, by improving a neighborhood park.” TruGreen, which has officially adopted Southside Park, has already begun applying fertilizer and weed control to the park’s green spaces. The company has also worked with the City of Memphis and volunteers from The Works on some initial landscaping in the park. In addition to the green up, the Memphis Grizzlies will be resurfacing the park’s existing basketball court and refurbishing the backboards. All of the improvements are expected to be complete by May 2013. Click below for CA article.
From left to right: Bill Sublette, chief sales officer of TruGreen, Janet P. Hooks, director of Parks and Neighborhoods, Mayor A C Wharton, Jr., Teresa Dickerson, director of community investment for the Memphis Grizzlies, Dr. Kenneth Robinson, founder and executive director of The Works, Inc., and Courtney Wright, TruGreen branch manager.
www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/oct/24/memphis-park-gets-makeover/
Memphis artist Mark Nowell’s latest public art installation is a monumental landmark at the Tobey Park Skate Park, located at 1627 Avery Avenue. It honors the culture of skateboarding in a dynamic and interactive way. The Division of Parks and Neighborhoods, along with the UrbanArt Commission, hosted the dedication ceremony and celebration for the sculpture on Friday, October 12th. The public enjoyed refreshments, live music, and a various speakers. The Wave acts as a permanent landmark for the Skate Park, while also acting as an integral and functional component of the skateboarding area. Nowell describes the sculpture as a “symbol of the culture and history of skateboarding.” The Tobey Park Skate Park, Memphis’ first public skateboarding park, was dedicated and opened to the public in November 2011. The Skate Park was brought to Memphis largely through the efforts of Skatelife Memphis, an organization that is focused on increasing public awareness of the benefits of skateboarding related to public health and community building among youth.
DEDICATION OF MEMPHIS WAVE SCULPTURE
The UrbanArt Commission, the independent non-profit organization that administers the City of Memphis Percent-for-Art Program, commissioned the project through an open competition. Celebrating 15 years of service to the community and the ten-year anniversary of the City of Memphis Percent-for-Art Program, UrbanArt’s mission is to enhance the cultural vibrancy of the community through public art.
Responding to Ruth Tate Senior Center Reopens
Over 75 seniors enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner at Ruth E. Tate Senior Center (1620 Majorie) on Thursday, November 15, 2012. The City of Memphis recently reopened the center November 1st, and has operational hours on Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Center Director Kristine Strickland and the center’s namesake Ms. Ruth E. Tate, the first director of the center, enjoy the festivities.
NBA Cares at Gaston Community Center
Tony Allen proves that he is just not awesome on the court. He provided 150 coats for Knowledge Quest participants in South Memphis.
Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless and Hungry
The 28th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless and Hungry was held on Thanksgiving Day, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Click below to view story: http://wreg.com/2012/11/22/hundreds-feed-the-homeless-and-hungry/
Hickory Hill Community Center
Central Defense Security employees donated several turkeys to complete Hickory Hill Community Center's holiday food baskets. Additional, CDS employees were able to personally deliver some baskets. Here, (front, l to r) CDS' Marvin Stanley, Chassity Pointer-Gibson, Jerrica Love and Willie Mallory, with Margaret Fluckers, Community Center Director; and (back, l to r) CDS' Ken Moody and Hosea Stewart with Lewis Burton, Community Center Assistant Director.
City of Memphis Parks and Neighborhoods
the Community Hollywood Community Center
Hosted Feed The Need Memphis on Thanksgiving Day. More than 300 people were served a traditional dinner consisting of ham, turkey, dressing, yams, corn, potato salad & rolls. After dinner, hair cuts, manicures, health screenings and clothing were provided.
Bickford Community Center Great times. Bickford Community Center gave away 90 Thanksgiving Baskets to seniors in the North Memphis community. The total giveaway with other community partners was 300 for the neighborhood. Hats off to Hope Presbyterian Church for their commitment to the North Memphis neighborhood.
Whitehaven Community Center
Central Defense Security distributed 40 coats the company collected to underprivileged families served by the community centers in Memphis. Here, CDS' Ken Moody, Chassity Pointer-Gibson, Willie Mallory and Jerrica Love, with Ivory Boykins, Community Center Director.
Lester Community Center
Penny Hardaway, along with his mother Fae donated 100 Thanksgiving meals to needy families in the Binghampton. Click below to view story:
www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/21/former-nba-star-penny-hardaway-donates-100-meals/
Gaisman Community Center
MidSouth Food Bank Commodity Giveaway
Spotlight:
Johnnie Walker Executive Director, Memphis Music Commission By Kevin Wilson, BlackAmerica Web and
spent many hours in the library to learn more about copywriting
and advertising. “She was a quick study and soon the jokes ceased. In 1989, Walker’s zeal caught the attention of hip hop godfather Russell Simmons. He signed Walker with Def Comedy Jam as a local representative. Relentlessly hustling and putting in extremely long hours, Walker became the promotions director, music director and program director, in less than three years. As the first female senior vice president of promotions at Def Comedy Jam Music Group, Inc., she was largely responsible for the careers of Mos Def, Kelly Price, Montel Jordan, DMX, Ja Rule, Public Enemy and LL Cool J. “We were the frontrunners with two-way pagers, a promotion driven company,” Walker said, adding that Simmons multitasked amazOn the set of Memphis Music Revealed, Memphis Music Commission Board Member Kurt ‘KC’ Clayton, Singer/Keyboardist Coretta King, Ashley Owens, Chrissy Owens, and Johnnie Walker.
ingly well and that he was a great business mentor. These days, Walker is the executive director of the Memphis Music Commission and provides a host of programs and initiatives including Mem-
Growing up in Grenada, Mississippi, in the 1960s, Johnnie Walker ob-
phis Music Revealed, Memphis Music Industry Forum, Legal Clinic,
served racism firsthand. The only child of Johnny Kilpatrick and Estelle
Generation Next, Music Monday, and a Musicians Healthcare plan.
Stokes learned quickly that she could achieve any goal with tenacity and guts and put those skills to use to become a powerhouse who
Walker is also the founder of the National Association of Black Female
opened doors in the music industry.
Executives and
in
Music
Entertainment.
Although she was an honor roll student throughout high school, in-
Recently, the Black
stead of attending college after high school, Walker spent a year in
Employee Network of
the mending department at a hosiery factory. Next, she became an
the InterPublic Group in
administrative assistant for a garden apartment complex and then
Los Angeles, one of the
a packager for Rockwell International, a wheel cover manufacturer.
world’s largest advertising and marketing
During those years, Walker listened religiously to WLS radio in
agencies, presented an
Chicago, captivated by Yvonne Daniels’ golden voice as she
insightful discussion on
read commercials on the air. Walker dreamt of becoming a ra-
the powerful influence
dio announcer. “Music was inside of me,” Walker confessed.
Black Music has made in pop culture and
In 1973, Walker made a trip to Pop Tunes Store in Memphis and
advertising. During the
saw Daniels and the legendary Isaac Hayes in a Billboard Magazine
event, Walker was cited
next to the R&B chart, confirmation that a black woman could have
for her career achieve-
a career in radio. Walker started out as a receptionist at WNAG ra-
ments in the Music
dio in Mississippi in 1979. By age 30, she advanced to WYKC/B-100.
Industry and honored
She went to the general manager and told him she wanted to
with the agencies’
become a copywriter. He didn’t take her seriously at first and
“Black Music Pioneer Award”
treated er
wrote
her
request
advertising
copy
as
a
for
two
City of Memphis Parks and Neighborhoods
joke. weeks
Walkfor
free
For more information about the Memphis Music Commission , visit www.memphismusic.org
Memphis Celebrates Completion of Segment II of Wolf River Greenway Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2012, the Wolf River Greenway Trail is a 1.67 mile long paved, shaded trail that parallels the Wolf River and provides pedestrians and bikers with views of the river, ponds, wildlife habitat, and lush timberlands. The development of the Wolf River Greenway Trail is a partnership comprised of the City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods, the Wolf River Conservancy and the Hyde Family Foundations. The trail was constructed on land owned by Boyle Investment Company and is managed by the City of Memphis. Built in sections, this 10-foot wide pathway will eventually extend a total of 30 miles to connect neighborhoods all the way from downtown Memphis through Germantown and Collierville, Tennessee. The Greenway will also intersect with other area trail systems including the Shelby Farms Greenline, providing a link to the largest urban park in the United States.
8, 2013 In accordance with patterns established by other developed greenways across the country, the Wolf River Greenway will help to connect people and communities, encourage healthy lifestyles, and improve the general quality of life in adjacent neighborhoods. Meandering along the banks of the Wolf River, this scenic greenway will be a centerpiece for the transformation of the Mid-South into a 21st century community, allowing users to experience the natural beauty of bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands, and to visit local shops and cafes along the way via multiple access points. Click here to view the Wolf River Greenway http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rym7BYY0Xu8
F
Salvation Army Angel Tree
or over 20 years, City of Memphis employees have exhibited their generosity with gift giving to some of our most needy citizens. The sacrifice that many of our employees have made in these challenging economic times is a testament to the caliber of employees we have working in city government. This year, City employees adopted 270 Angels. The finale was very entertaining and featured music from the Central High School Concert Choir and a performance from Hattiloo Theatre.
Angel Tree Finale with Captain Jonathan Rich, Area Commander Salvation Army; Janet P. Hooks, Director, Parks and Neighborhoods; Allison J. Fouche’ , Community Affairs Manager/Campaign Coordinator; and George Little, Chief Administrative Officer.
Office of ReEntry hosts State of Tennessee Career Coach The Memphis and Shelby County Office of Re-Entry hosted the Tennessee Career Coach mobile unit to assist its participants in their job search. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development tours a mobile center with services similar to what you might find in a Tennessee Career Center. The vehicles arrive on the scene to provide a mobile computer lab with Internet access and other services, including resume assistance and interviewing skills and serves as a recruitment center for companies moving into our state. • • •
City of Memphis Parks and Neighborhoods
45 job seekers were seen 30 Office of Re-Entry clients 6 job referrals were made to area companies.
The Office of Community Affairs welcomes its newest member
Timothy Harris
• Born and raised in Memphis, TN • Married with one adult child. • Hobbies : Reading, News Junkie, Sci-Fi enthusiast, Cooking • Loves spending time with family
Education B.A. Public Relations/Journalism – University of Memphis - 2003 Goals: To be a part of the “renaissance” that will bring Memphis together as a strong, vibrant, progressive community at large. With several years in public sector positions, Tim brings to bear a superb work ethic as it relates to serving his community. As a Program Specialist for Memphis City Schools, Tim facilitated operational grant funds for the Early Childhood department. During this time, Tim utilized his grants management, and database management skill sets, affecting over 3000 students, and over 250 teachers, contractors, and administrative personnel. This experience, along with his educational background in Public Relations, has afforded Tim the tools needed to excel in the position of Community Outreach Specialist. We look forward to Tim being a rising star as the citizens of Memphis begin to reap the benefits from his professional dedication to our community. For more information regarding Community Affairs and programming, call 576-6260.
MEMShop’s Trash to Treasure Neighborhood Leader and Activist Cristina Condori and her daughter participate in the Trash to Treasure workshop sponsored by The Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team and The Office of Community Affairs. Participants brought in old items and repurposed them as art pieces for the holidays.
Boxer Roy Jones, Jr. spreads Anti-bully message Former world champion Roy Jones, Jr. visited Gaston Community Center to spread a message to children about anti-bullying. Mayor Wharton welcomed him to our city and presented him with a Key to the City. For more on his visit, click www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/20462936/boxer-spreads-anti-bullying-message#ixzz2GrHudPVw
02 CITY PARKS FORUM BRIEFING PAPERS
How cities use parks for...
Community Engagement Executive Summary
Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with individuals and groups to achieve specific goals. For parks and open spaces, community engagement allows mayors and public officials to directly involve their constituencies in the ongoing design, planning, and management of these resources.This process results in informed and engaged residents that feel better connected to their communities. While sometimes contentious, but more often productive and rewarding, community engagement is an essential ingredient of making successful urban open space. Parks support community engagement by providing residents with a venue for participation in and attachment to their communities.They also provide a sense of place and offer essential life-enhancing qualities that aid community and individual well-being. By understanding the community benefits of parks, decision makers can develop constituencies that can sustain their urban park systems over time. The City Parks Forum is a program of the American Planning Association funded by the Wallace-Reader’s Digest Funds and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
Key Point #1 Parks are one of the quickest and most effective ways to build a sense of community and improve quality of life.
Key Point #2 Parks provide places for people to connect and interact in a shared environment.
Key Point #3 Parks channel positive community participation by getting diverse people to work together toward a shared vision.
American Planning Association Making Great Communities Happen