Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
2025 Annual Report
As we look back on 2025, one thing is clear: Shelby Farms Park + Shelby Farms Greenline are only possible with visitors, donors, and partners. From important milestones to quiet moments, 2025 reminded us of what’s possible when a community comes together to create a special place. We want to celebrate what we achieved together and share how these successes are setting the stage for an even stronger year ahead with you.
Greenline 15 Birthday Celebrations
Fifteen years ago, a small group of forward-thinking citizens imagined transforming an unused railbed into something extraordinary—a lifeline for this city. That was the vision for the Shelby Farms Greenline— a vibrant greenway that connects neighborhoods, promotes wellness, brings people closer to nature, and sees more than 1 million visits a year. Since 2010, and with donor support, it has served as a commuter route, fitness hub, and place to explore and unwind. In 2025, we celebrated a new 2.3-mile extension made possible with Shelby County, bringing the Greenline to nearly 13 miles. We also marked 15 years of movement and community with events like the Bu alo Run 5K + 15K (presented by Kroger Health), Community Trail Mixers (presented by Rails to Trails Conservancy), and a free Birthday Bash at the Park (presented by Park Place at Shelby Farms).
UP NEXT: Heart of the Park at Shelby Farms Park sees more than 900,000 visits a year, welcoming thousands every day to enjoy Hyde Lake, trails, green spaces, and gathering places. And can you believe it's almost been 10 years since Heart of the Park opened, following unprecedented community input and a $70M capital campaign?
We can’t wait to celebrate this community treasure milestone with you—stay tuned!
Starry Nights
Presented by xAI
Another holiday season brought back a beloved Mid-South tradition enjoyed by thousands of families. Nearly 18,000 cars and an estimated 63,000 people experienced Starry Nights—whether driving through the show, joining the Bu aGLO Family Walk + Fun Run (presented by Brother), Walk + Bike Night (presented by Sylvamo), or wagon rides from Shelby Farms Stables. We also launched Afterglow as part of Starry Nights – a new 21+ speakeasy-style event held at the yurt right in the middle of the show. As the Park’s largest and longest-running fundraiser, Starry Nights also supports Park operations year-round. Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, or supported the show!
ON THE HORIZON: We are re-imagining and refreshing Memphis’ favorite holiday light show, Starry Nights, in 2026 with all-new groundbreaking displays and experiences. We look forward to welcoming you and yours to the new Starry Nights later this year!
Earth Day Festival
Presented by International Paper
In 2025, our annual Earth Day Festival moved to the Park’s First Horizon Foundation Visitor Center, providing free environmental education and hands-on experiences for families across the Mid-South Attendees enjoyed a Family Fun Run around Hyde Lake, connected with eco-friendly businesses and organizations, and learned ways to create a greener future at home. We hope to see you at the 2026 Festival on April 18—more info coming soon!
Park After Dark
Presented by First Horizon Foundation
Park After Dark 2025 o ered a rare chance to experience Shelby Farms Park after sunset—a chic gala with cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, and more. Held each May at the Park’s FedEx Event Center, the event was attended by nearly 300 guests who came together to celebrate while raising funds that support Park + Greenline operations year-round, ensuring vital outdoor spaces for recreation, fitness, and community for millions of annual visitors. Planning for the next Park After Dark is already underway—stay tuned!
Want to make sure you're on the guest list? Email give@shelbyfarmspark.org.
Our popular disc golf course, The Uplands, was fully renovated in 2025 with our partner Perks and Re-creation. Sponsored by Wolfchase Honda + Wolfchase Nissan, the redesigned course features new tee boxes, baskets, maps, and signage—and is already attracting three times as many players! We celebrated the course re-opening by holding our first-ever Bu a-Throw tournament in May.
The Shelby Farms Park Outback O -Leash Dog Park, sponsored by Jim Keras Subaru, was voted the #1 dog park in the United States in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The result of nationwide voting by the public, this marks the second consecutive year our O -Leash Dog Park has finished in the top 5 and the first time ever that we have been number one in the country.
In November, the TSSAA held the 2025 Cross Country State Championship at the Park, marking the first time the event was hosted in Memphis through a collaboration with Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, Memphis Tourism, and Memphis Youth Athletics. Many local runners were able to participate for the first time, and we look forward to welcoming athletes, families, and TSSAA sta again in 2026.
Shelby Farms Park is featured in the new Memphis edition of Hasbro’s MONOPOLY, with a board space showing one of our bu alo and a Community Chest card highlighting the Greenline. Hasbro said the community’s “overwhelming response” led to the Park’s inclusion—and we’re grateful!
As popular as ever, our Friday night Canoes + Cocktails events kicked it up a notch in 2025. We were proud to join the city-wide 100 Days of Blues to celebrate B.B. King's birthday, featuring two nights of live blues music with local musicians in addition to the unrivaled sunsets, guided lake paddles, and delicious local food and cocktails that Canoes + Cocktails are
2025 saw the highest number of class attendees yet for Get Outside! Fitness at the Park. Presented by Baptist Memorial Health Care, this free public program ran weekly from April through October. Special thanks to our other community partners who helped make it possible: YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, Ballet Memphis, Club Pilates, Kidokinetics, Girls on the Run, and The Memphis Kroc Center.
Other 2025 Milestones
For those who want a deeper look at our impact....
We are committed to financial transparency, which means we communicate openly about how Park dollars are used so everyone can see the impact of their support.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2025 - 2026
Chair Reginald Porter, Jr. Leadership Memphis
Vice Chair Ray Pohlman Coalition for Automotive Repair Equality
Treasurer Allison T. Gilbert Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh, PLLC
Secretary Renee Bailey Pfizer
Calvin Anderson
Shante Avant
Marci Cannon Fisher
Trevia Chatman
Mathilde Crosby
Brooke Dishmon
Scott Fleming
Duncan Galbreath
Tom Grimes
Lee Harris
Angela Hill
Barbara Hyde
Randy Irving
Larry Jensen
Sabine Langer
Sean McCarty
Alec McLean
Tim Nicholls
Demetri Patikas
Kayla Rodriguez Gra
Elkan Scheidt
Gary Shorb
Michael Whaley
Nick Wiley
Kevin Woods
Clear Strategies Group
Shelby County Commission, District 5
Baptist Memorial Health Care Bank of America
Sugar Services, LLC
Wellpath
4FDesign
First Horizon
MAA (retired)
Shelby County O ce of the Mayor
Shelby County Health Department
Hyde Family Foundation
W.M. Barr & Company
Commercial Advisors
Global Cafe
Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC
New South Capital Management, Inc.
International Paper
Stifel
SweetBio
Shelby Ventures, LLC
Urban Child Institute
Shelby County Commission, District 13
Ducks Unlimited
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
SCAN HERE TO VIEW FY25 IRS Form 990
(July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)
SCAN HERE TO VIEW FY25 Revenues + Expenditures
(July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)
FY25 Donors + Sponsors
(July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)
$100,000 + $50,000 - $99,999 $20,000 - $49,999
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
Mary Jane Davis Scott & Kay Dawson
FedEx Mark & Cindy Finestone HilltopSecurities
Jim Keras Subaru Bruce & Susanne Landau
Memphis Area Honda Dealers Bill & Amy Rhodes Sylvamo Tennessee Valley Authority
$10,000 - $19,999
Craig & Linda Brashear Brother International Corporation
John & Dana Buford Caissa Public Strategy
Allison & Andy Cates Mary Lee Copp
Herbert Shainberg Foundation Kele, Inc
Ron & Lucy Keller Alla & Nathan Lubin
Alec & Margaret McLean Memphis Tourism
Larry & Judy Moss Orgill, Inc. Don & Karen Pentecost
Rebecca Riddle Elkan & Laurie Scheidt
Brian Stephens & Paige Walkup State Systems, Inc.
Thomas W. Briggs Foundation, Inc. Jack Ward
First Horizon Foundation Hyde Family Foundation Campbell Clinic International Paper
AutoZone
$3,000
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