T.O. Fuller State Park Seeks Public Input on Conceptual Plans for Former Golf Course Property
Friday, March 09, 2012 | 09:16am
Community Meeting Slated for Wednesday, March 21
MEMPHIS – T.O. Fuller State Park will hold a community meeting on Wednesday, March 21, to present and discuss Tennessee State Parks’ conceptual plans for the revitalization of the park’s former golf course, which closed in the fall of 2011. Beginning at noon, the meeting will be held at the facility that previously served as the golf course’s Pro Shop and is open to the public.
“Based on multiple site visits, internal discussions with park staff and recommendations from the community, we have conceptualized a plan that we feel will benefit the local community, while preserving the local wildlife and aesthetics of the park,” said Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill. “Our main priority is to ensure T.O. Fuller State Park continues to be an outstanding destination for its many visitors, while enhancing the community’s amenities and outdoor opportunities.”
The meeting is designed to be both informative and to solicit community input about Tennessee State Parks’ initial recommendations for the future development of this site, including the addition of nature trails along the former cart paths, a butterfly garden, a soccer field, and a nature center.
The park, which first opened in the 1930s as Shelby Bluffs, was the first state park east of the Mississippi River and only the second in the nation open to African Americans. In 1942, the park’s name changed to T.O. Fuller State Park in honor of Dr. Thomas O. Fuller who spent his life empowering and educating African Americans. The park is located in Shelby County within the southern limits of the city of Memphis. The park encompasses a total of 1,138 acres with a diversity of wildlife. Its abundance of local flora and fauna from the Mississippi flood plains to its high and overshadowing bluff ridges make this area an ideal place for the birdwatcher or outdoor enthusiast.
T.O. Fuller State Park is located at 1500 Mitchell Road in Memphis. For more information about the park, please visit the Tennessee State Parks Web site at www.tnstateparks.com/TOFuller or call (901) 785-8485.
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