Do you have ideas for how Mud Island could be better utilized for the public? If so, please attend one of the Public Meetings and give your input!
Public meeting schedule:
Mar. 23 (Mon.) - Mud Island River Park Harbor Landing, 101 Island Dr.
Mar. 24 (Tues.) - Raleigh United Methodist Church, 3295 Powers Rd.
Mar. 31 (Tues.) - Whitehaven Community Center Gym, 4318 Graceland Dr.
Apr. 2 (Thurs.) - Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Rd.
All of the meetings are from 5:45 pm to 7:15 pm.
Whether or not you are able to attend the public meetings, please be sure to also fill out the RDC survey for the Land Use Study for Mud Island.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Save the Date - April 25th!
The Mississippi River Corridor - Tennessee is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Clean Memphis, Sierra Club and Friends for our Riverfront to organize a clean-up of our Mississippi River/Harbor in downtown Memphis on Saturday, April 25, 2009.
We invite you to spend a few hours helping us with this important task on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Please mark your calendars, and stay tuned for additional information.
Thank you!
We invite you to spend a few hours helping us with this important task on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Please mark your calendars, and stay tuned for additional information.
Thank you!
Monday, March 9, 2009
URBANEXUS Memphis
Another Memphis event to attend after Memphis 101.
Memphis
The Salon: The New Face of Civic Engagement
Thursday, March 19th 2009 6:00pm
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
926 McLemore Avenue, Memphis
Join Next American City for their URBANEXUS salon on the role of civic engagement in moving Memphis forward. Join seven local representatives - Eric Matthews of Launch Memphis, Dr. Charlie Santo of Coalition for Livable Communities, Tim Sampson of Stax Museum, John Weeden of UrbanArt, Cardell Orrin of New Path, Derwin Sisnett of NDCC Power Center and Gwyn Fisher of MPACT Memphis - as each presenter uses 4 slides per minute for 4 minutes to share how their organizations are making creative approaches toward civic engagement. An audience Q&A and reception will immediately follow the presentations.
Admission is free.
Presented by Next American City.
Sponsored by:
Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning & Development
MPACT Memphis
Sustainable Shelby
In Partnership With:
Urban Land Institute
Coalition for Livable Communities
Community Development Council
Memphis
The Salon: The New Face of Civic Engagement
Thursday, March 19th 2009 6:00pm
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
926 McLemore Avenue, Memphis
Join Next American City for their URBANEXUS salon on the role of civic engagement in moving Memphis forward. Join seven local representatives - Eric Matthews of Launch Memphis, Dr. Charlie Santo of Coalition for Livable Communities, Tim Sampson of Stax Museum, John Weeden of UrbanArt, Cardell Orrin of New Path, Derwin Sisnett of NDCC Power Center and Gwyn Fisher of MPACT Memphis - as each presenter uses 4 slides per minute for 4 minutes to share how their organizations are making creative approaches toward civic engagement. An audience Q&A and reception will immediately follow the presentations.
Admission is free.
Presented by Next American City.
Sponsored by:
Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning & Development
MPACT Memphis
Sustainable Shelby
In Partnership With:
Urban Land Institute
Coalition for Livable Communities
Community Development Council
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Leadership Academy - Memphis 101
At the MRCT we are always happy to share information about groups and activities which portray our city and region in a positive light, so we wanted to make sure you knew about this event:
MEMPHIS 101
get to really know this town
Mayor AC Wharton, Featured Speaker. Larry Jensen, Special Presentation.
Candid, compelling, enlightening, Memphis 101*, sponsored by First Tennessee Foundation as part of the Celebrate What's Right series, is an interactive crash course in Memphis culture, people and politics. Join The Leadership Academy as we offer a fresh perspective into our city's personality. All are welcome! There is no charge for this event but we do need your RSVP. (Subsequent Memphis 101s will be for a fee unless participating in MemphisConnect.)
March 19th, from 3:00-5:00pm
Second Presbyterian Church
4055 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
RSVP Didi Crandall, at dcrandall@leadershipacademy.org or 901.527.4625, ext. 10.
*Developed and owned by archer>malmo, the largest marketing and communications firm in Tennessee, Memphis 101 is licensed to The Leadership Academy on an exclusive basis.
MemphisConnect. Building a better Memphis. Recruiting and Retaining Talent.
MEMPHIS 101
get to really know this town
Mayor AC Wharton, Featured Speaker. Larry Jensen, Special Presentation.
Candid, compelling, enlightening, Memphis 101*, sponsored by First Tennessee Foundation as part of the Celebrate What's Right series, is an interactive crash course in Memphis culture, people and politics. Join The Leadership Academy as we offer a fresh perspective into our city's personality. All are welcome! There is no charge for this event but we do need your RSVP. (Subsequent Memphis 101s will be for a fee unless participating in MemphisConnect.)
March 19th, from 3:00-5:00pm
Second Presbyterian Church
4055 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
RSVP Didi Crandall, at dcrandall@leadershipacademy.org or 901.527.4625, ext. 10.
*Developed and owned by archer>malmo, the largest marketing and communications firm in Tennessee, Memphis 101 is licensed to The Leadership Academy on an exclusive basis.
MemphisConnect. Building a better Memphis. Recruiting and Retaining Talent.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Ghost River Rentals
How can you get out and paddle the Mississippi River? If you'd like to rent a kayak and a guide, read about Ghost River Rentals below.
Mark Babb and Don Hailey started Ghost River Rentals in 2007. Mark is a physical fitness and outdoor enthusiast who grew up boating and camping on the Mississippi River with his father and brothers. He worked several years on Mississippi River Towboats and was a licensed Towboat Pilot. Also a sailor, he has explored all of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Barrier Islands on a seventeen foot catamaran. As a paddler he has explored over 100 miles of Mississippi River, Wolf River from LaGrange to Memphis, Horn Island and many others. Don is also a lifelong physical fitness and outdoor enthusiast. He is a PADI certified Rescue Diver, holds a Commercial Pilots license (non-active), and is an avid Harley rider. As a paddler he has explored many miles of the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers, as well as an overnight trip to Horn Island. Mark Babb & Don Hailey are both career Firefigher Paramedics with over 30 years combined experience in Emergency Services, so safety is never a worry when touring the rivers with these two.
Most of their kayak/canoe trips are Wolf River focused due to demand, but when interviewing Mark, he mentioned that he would love to see more of a demand for Mississippi River excursions, and would offer weekly tours if the demand increased. When asked why he thought there was less demand for paddling the Mississippi River he stated that many people feel it is not safe to paddle because of the strong current and scary reputation. Education and safety are the keys to overcoming these fears, and as long as the river is respected, paddling it can be especially rewarding. While Ghost River Rentals offers guided tours of both the Wolf and Mississippi Rivers, he recommends contacting Outdoors Inc. (www.outdoorsinc.com) or Memphis Whitewater (www.memphiswhitewater.com) for courses on kayaking technique for those who wish to become kayakers on their own.
Bluff homes overlooking the river and Mud Island are creating new demand for and interest in the river, instead of just seeing it as dangerous and polluted. He also mentioned that he personally feels safer on a kayak than a power boat on the river, because if the motor goes on the power boat, you're stranded, but with a kayak, you have more control over the situation. His personal (and experienced) preference for kayaking the Mississippi is a 17’ sit-in touring kayak.
For additional information on Wolf River excursions and pricing, please visit their website at www.ghostriverrentals.com or contact them via email ghostriverrentals@yahoo.com or telephone: 901-485-1220. Their Mississippi River excursion prices are not on the website, but were quoted at prices of $45/boat and $100/guide. There is a minimum requirement of 6 boats and typically 2 guides for more inexperienced paddlers to book a Mississippi River excursion. The boats they use for the Mississippi River are sit-on-top kayaks which have no spray skirts nor require any bail-out if cap-sized and they float and can be flipped back over for ease of use. Their most requested Mississippi River excursion is the all day float from Meeman-Shelby Forest to downtown Memphis, and they also offer sunset floats where they launch from the north side of Mud Island, paddle across the river to Loosahatchie Bar and then back to Mud Island around the south bend and into the Wolf River Harbor. He stated that these trips would be much easier with better access to the river, because he believes the Auction Street boat ramp is currently closed, and he has been turned away from the Mud Island Marina in the past. So, be a part of the demand, and let's ensure we all have access to our river. For those who are interested in a more robust experience including camping, they also offer the chance to kayak the river from Golddust, TN (in Lauderdale County) to an end point of either Memphis, TN or Tunica, MS.
Mark Babb and Don Hailey started Ghost River Rentals in 2007. Mark is a physical fitness and outdoor enthusiast who grew up boating and camping on the Mississippi River with his father and brothers. He worked several years on Mississippi River Towboats and was a licensed Towboat Pilot. Also a sailor, he has explored all of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Barrier Islands on a seventeen foot catamaran. As a paddler he has explored over 100 miles of Mississippi River, Wolf River from LaGrange to Memphis, Horn Island and many others. Don is also a lifelong physical fitness and outdoor enthusiast. He is a PADI certified Rescue Diver, holds a Commercial Pilots license (non-active), and is an avid Harley rider. As a paddler he has explored many miles of the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers, as well as an overnight trip to Horn Island. Mark Babb & Don Hailey are both career Firefigher Paramedics with over 30 years combined experience in Emergency Services, so safety is never a worry when touring the rivers with these two.
Most of their kayak/canoe trips are Wolf River focused due to demand, but when interviewing Mark, he mentioned that he would love to see more of a demand for Mississippi River excursions, and would offer weekly tours if the demand increased. When asked why he thought there was less demand for paddling the Mississippi River he stated that many people feel it is not safe to paddle because of the strong current and scary reputation. Education and safety are the keys to overcoming these fears, and as long as the river is respected, paddling it can be especially rewarding. While Ghost River Rentals offers guided tours of both the Wolf and Mississippi Rivers, he recommends contacting Outdoors Inc. (www.outdoorsinc.com) or Memphis Whitewater (www.memphiswhitewater.com) for courses on kayaking technique for those who wish to become kayakers on their own.
Bluff homes overlooking the river and Mud Island are creating new demand for and interest in the river, instead of just seeing it as dangerous and polluted. He also mentioned that he personally feels safer on a kayak than a power boat on the river, because if the motor goes on the power boat, you're stranded, but with a kayak, you have more control over the situation. His personal (and experienced) preference for kayaking the Mississippi is a 17’ sit-in touring kayak.
For additional information on Wolf River excursions and pricing, please visit their website at www.ghostriverrentals.com or contact them via email ghostriverrentals@yahoo.com or telephone: 901-485-1220. Their Mississippi River excursion prices are not on the website, but were quoted at prices of $45/boat and $100/guide. There is a minimum requirement of 6 boats and typically 2 guides for more inexperienced paddlers to book a Mississippi River excursion. The boats they use for the Mississippi River are sit-on-top kayaks which have no spray skirts nor require any bail-out if cap-sized and they float and can be flipped back over for ease of use. Their most requested Mississippi River excursion is the all day float from Meeman-Shelby Forest to downtown Memphis, and they also offer sunset floats where they launch from the north side of Mud Island, paddle across the river to Loosahatchie Bar and then back to Mud Island around the south bend and into the Wolf River Harbor. He stated that these trips would be much easier with better access to the river, because he believes the Auction Street boat ramp is currently closed, and he has been turned away from the Mud Island Marina in the past. So, be a part of the demand, and let's ensure we all have access to our river. For those who are interested in a more robust experience including camping, they also offer the chance to kayak the river from Golddust, TN (in Lauderdale County) to an end point of either Memphis, TN or Tunica, MS.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
2009 Greenways & Trails Forum
2009 Greenways & Trails Forum
"Connect with Tennessee"
Thursday, April 2, 2009 – Saturday, April 4, 2009*
D.P. Culp University Center
East TN State University
Johnson City, TN
Featured Forum Speaker: Dan Burden
*See PDF brochure or visit their website for a detailed schedule of events and additional information.
Dan Burden is a nationally recognized authority on bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs, livable communities, healthy streets, traffic calming, and other design and planning elements that affect roadway environments. Time Magazine recently listed Dan as "one of the six most important civic innovators in the world." The Transportation Research Board (National Academy of Sciences) honored Dan by making him their Distinguished Lecturer in 2001, the national Smart Growth Coalition awarded Dan its first Lifetime Achievement Award and the League of American Bicyclists lists Dan as "one of the 25 most significant leaders in bicycling for the past 100 years."
Experience: Dan has thirty years of experience in the livable communities field. He served for 16 years as Florida DOT's first State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator. This program became a model for other statewide programs. In 1996, Dan founded Walkable Communities, Inc. This nonprofit group has been assisting North American communities to become more walkable. Then in 2005, Dan and Walkable Communities joined Glatting Jackson, where Dan now works as a Principal and Senior Urban Designer. Glatting Jackson is a firm recognized for its excellence in livable communities design and innovative urban transportation planning and design services.
Method: In the past 11 years Dan has personally photographed and examined walking, bicycling and transportation conditions in over 2,500 cities in the U.S. and abroad. He worked as a bicycle consultant in China for the United Nations in 1994, and he has also worked in Australia, Canada, the Caribbean and many European countries. His pictures have been published in such diverse publications as the National Geographic, New York Times, Better Homes and Gardens, Sierra Club and Weekly Reader. Presentations given by Dan are always richly illustrated with examples from near and far. Dan's visual, information-rich workshops, with National Geographic quality images, showcase the most modern and best ways to plan and design better streets, town centers, and neighborhoods. Today many state and national organizations select Dan as either a featured or keynote speaker for their annual conferences.
Goal: Dan uses his experience and photography to teach people to speak one common language; his goal is to bring many professions closer together, to retool and rebuild for present and future urban living. Common professions and groups that learn to speak one universal community building language include the following: engineering, planning, health, development, placemaking, architecture, advocacy, historic preservation, and landscape architecture. Designs that incorporate this process lead to highly engaging activity centers, prosperous business districts, quiet, pleasant, well connected neighborhoods, and great waterfronts, parks, trails and open spaces with an emphasis on people and active living.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wolf River Boardwalk Hikes
Boardwalk Hikes this Saturday, February 7, at 10:00 a.m.
Please join Allan Trently, a state biologist, on two Boardwalk Hikes w/The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Division of Natural Areas. TDEC Biologist Allan Trently will lead two, short guided hikes on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the William B. Clark and the Ghost River Natural Areas in Fayette County. Participants should meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot at the William Clark Preserve located about one mile north of Rossville on State Highway 194.
The first hike will begin at the 460-acre William B. Clark conservation area, which features a 1,600-foot interpretive boardwalk that meanders through bald, cypress-water tupelo forest in the Wolf River. Participants will then drive approximately 10 miles to the Ghost River State Natural Area situated just outside of LaGrange. While at this 2,220-acre natural area, hikers will walk along the 600-foot boardwalk that crosses through a very scenic stretch of the Ghost River section of the Wolf River.
Both hikes will be guided by the Division's Stewardship Ecologist Allan Trently, who will interpret the ecology of the natural areas, which occur along un-channelized reaches of the Wolf River. A variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats along the boardwalks offer opportunities for observing snakes, turtles, amphibians, beavers, wading birds and aquatic vegetation. Participants can expect to see cypress knees protruding from the moist forest floor and shallow water.
"The Wolf River and its sloughs provide excellent habitat for rare and endangered freshwater mussels and other aquatic organisms," Trently said. "Additionally, the Ghost River Natural Area includes other ecologically significant uplands and sandy hills adjacent to the floodplain."
Reservations are required for the guided hikes and can be made by contacting Allan Trently by phone at (731) 512-1369 or by e-mail at allan.trently@state.tn.us by Feb. 6. For directions to the William B. Clark Natural Area, please visit: www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/wbclark.
Please join Allan Trently, a state biologist, on two Boardwalk Hikes w/The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Division of Natural Areas. TDEC Biologist Allan Trently will lead two, short guided hikes on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the William B. Clark and the Ghost River Natural Areas in Fayette County. Participants should meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot at the William Clark Preserve located about one mile north of Rossville on State Highway 194.
The first hike will begin at the 460-acre William B. Clark conservation area, which features a 1,600-foot interpretive boardwalk that meanders through bald, cypress-water tupelo forest in the Wolf River. Participants will then drive approximately 10 miles to the Ghost River State Natural Area situated just outside of LaGrange. While at this 2,220-acre natural area, hikers will walk along the 600-foot boardwalk that crosses through a very scenic stretch of the Ghost River section of the Wolf River.
Both hikes will be guided by the Division's Stewardship Ecologist Allan Trently, who will interpret the ecology of the natural areas, which occur along un-channelized reaches of the Wolf River. A variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats along the boardwalks offer opportunities for observing snakes, turtles, amphibians, beavers, wading birds and aquatic vegetation. Participants can expect to see cypress knees protruding from the moist forest floor and shallow water.
"The Wolf River and its sloughs provide excellent habitat for rare and endangered freshwater mussels and other aquatic organisms," Trently said. "Additionally, the Ghost River Natural Area includes other ecologically significant uplands and sandy hills adjacent to the floodplain."
Reservations are required for the guided hikes and can be made by contacting Allan Trently by phone at (731) 512-1369 or by e-mail at allan.trently@state.tn.us by Feb. 6. For directions to the William B. Clark Natural Area, please visit: www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/wbclark.
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