tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14259139008169057402024-03-13T17:11:12.753-05:00Citizens to Preserve Overton ParkNaomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.comBlogger340125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-64911068145417715862015-11-23T18:39:00.000-06:002015-11-23T18:40:34.512-06:00Overton Park ForeverWelcome to the internet archives of the reincarnated Citizens to Preserve Overton Park!
Please visit our Facebook page for CPOP's latest news and views.
Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-55210867119993153622014-05-08T19:08:00.001-05:002014-05-09T09:25:09.748-05:00Go Team GOOL!The Get Off Our Lawn campaign continues to grow. After experiencing what happens when law-abiding citizens try to use the northern half of the Overton Park Greensward for its intended purpose, we decided to file a formal complaint with the Memphis Police Department.
[Click the image to biggify]
GOOL is asking park lovers to Get On Our Lawn every Saturday morning to demonstrate the correct way toNaomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-59838793987670033962014-03-25T13:49:00.000-05:002014-03-25T13:49:43.905-05:00Get Off Our Lawn!It wasn't easy to create the Old Forest State Natural Area and protect our beautiful forest forever, but your enthusiastic support made it happen. Now we are calling on you once again to stand up for parkland.
It is time to end the overflow parking on Overton Park's central Greensward. This green space is for people, not vehicles. Please visit Get Off Our Lawn for more info, and follow the Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-78958143281470331912014-03-02T23:30:00.000-06:002014-03-06T10:43:43.676-06:00Freeway Going to NowhereThe work of CPOP was mentioned by NPR writer Linton Weeks here!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-84782420030265969302014-02-06T21:09:00.000-06:002014-02-06T21:09:49.167-06:00Join us at the Old Forest Jamboree
It's that time of year again for CPOP's annual Old Forest Jamboree!
We'll be returning to the fabulous Hi-Tone Cafe at their new location in Crosstown for an exciting afternoon of music and fun. The party starts promptly at 3:00pm. We ask a $10 donation from grownups (those over 21 get a free Memphis Made beer) and we welcome children of all ages, as always.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-77612524700194775012014-01-28T05:30:00.000-06:002014-01-28T05:30:00.045-06:00The Parks of Memphis: Planning for the FutureA new civic advocacy group is being created by the City of Memphis Parks & Neighborhoods division, the Hyde Foundation, and the Trust for Public Land, to plan for the future of parks in Memphis.
This group recognizes the importance of the tradition of our historic park system but also its many challenges and unmet needs. At their first meeting in October they highlighted places needing Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-13551306792288766672013-09-12T09:00:00.000-05:002013-09-12T10:57:45.090-05:00Park or Parking Lot?
In the 5 months since we last posted (sorry!), Overton Park has seen a lot of movement towards getting cars off the Greensward. The Overton Park Conservancy has commissioned a parking study for Overton Park, the Memphis Zoo has hired A2H Engineers for a parking garage study, influential Memphians have envisioned integrated transportation linking the entire Cooper corridor, and a gatesofmemphishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00401189819920871321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-62804890132089164872013-04-02T07:59:00.000-05:002013-04-02T07:59:00.020-05:00More Park!Overton Park jammed during the week of Spring Break 2013.
Kids had a blast at the Brooks Chalk Art Festival, golfers played the course, dogs and dog lovers socialized at Overton Bark, picnickers spread across the Greensward and the East Parkway picnic area, hikers got a preview of Spring in the Old Forest, and animal lovers -- lots of them -- took their families to the Memphis Zoo.
Traffic wasgatesofmemphishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00401189819920871321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-21358039441549092922013-01-27T12:59:00.000-06:002013-01-27T14:01:37.164-06:00Old Forest Jamboree 2013!
3-5 pm
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Hi Tone Cafe, 1913 Poplar
It's time once again for the Old Forest Jamboree! This is also our final farewell to the fabulous Hi-Tone Cafe for giving unlimited love to the Old Forest and CPOP from the very beginning and a thank-you to the fabulous Jonathan Kiersky.
Bring your sweethearts and your dancing shoes, so we can blow the doors offgatesofmemphishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00401189819920871321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-82387641896995883912012-09-19T11:58:00.003-05:002012-09-19T11:58:30.216-05:00A Special Performance of "An Old Forest Fairy Tale"
Please join Voices of the South and Citizens to Preserve Overton Park On Friday, September 28th, for a special performance of Virginia Ralph's "An Old Forest Fairy Tale".
At 6 p.m. we will host a reception honoring the special heroes of the Old Forest: Sunshine Snyder, one of the original CPOP activists, Charlie Newman, CPOP's original lawyer, plus Senator Beverly gatesofmemphishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00401189819920871321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-19880280834562743002012-09-13T15:02:00.001-05:002012-09-14T18:02:40.153-05:00Fairy Tales and FestivalsThe Citizens to Preserve Overton Park are pleased to be a part of several big upcoming events.
Virginia Ralph's musical about the Forest, "An Old Forest Fairy Tale" starts a 3 week run beginning tonight at the Evergreen Theatre. CPOP, which helped sponsor the run with your donations and advance ticket purchases, will be hosting a special performance at 7 p.m. on gatesofmemphishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00401189819920871321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-62172693780637502002012-02-06T16:11:00.001-06:002012-02-06T16:14:39.407-06:00Thank You Jamboree February 19th, 4-6pm at the Hi ToneIn 2011 our state legislature voted unanimously to protect 126 acres of the Old Forest of Overton Park, forever, because YOU stood up and demanded it. We want to thank you with free music, free beer, and half-price pizza.Please join us and the wonderful Bluff City Backsliders to celebrate the creation of the Old Forest State Natural Area. They have Blind Dog (Clint Wagner of Devil Train, Stacey Greenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08067384545487563830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-27042719537730405262011-09-15T10:01:00.006-05:002011-09-15T10:09:14.752-05:00CPOP @ Cooper-Young FestDon't forget to visit our booth at the fabulous Cooper-Young Festival this Saturday, September 17, from 9am-7pm. We'll be on the west side of Cooper near Felix.You can pick up a free sticker and help us celebrate the Old Forest State Natural Area by hugging the Old Forest Lorax. If you need our reprint of the 1960s CPOP tee -- as worn by the "little old ladies in tennis shoes" who defended Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-1566811231895786132011-08-31T08:15:00.004-05:002011-08-31T08:25:52.481-05:00The Edible Forest
The pawpaws are ripe. North America's forgotten and largest native fruit now cover the understory of the Old Forest as the ripe pawpaws have begun falling from their branches to the forest floor, leaving a mild sweet-rotten smell in the air.
I took my very first taste of a pawpaw on the hike last Sunday.
It was good, it was rich and it had the texture of custard. It's supposed to taste like gatesofmemphishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00401189819920871321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-22273497142392933772011-08-04T07:53:00.003-05:002011-08-04T08:07:11.624-05:00Have you taken the survey?You have four more days to fill out the Overton Park community survey -- it closes on August 8. More than 1,500 of your neighbors have already shared their vision for our park. Please take the survey today!Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-24874438811827442572011-07-11T18:39:00.006-05:002011-07-11T19:18:46.460-05:00Overton Park Images, 1908-1913Thanks to the fabulous Memphis Room of the Benjamin Hooks Central Library for giving all citizens free access to historical documents and a scanner. Click the images to biggify. Enjoy!Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-20756376899914476952011-06-27T22:25:00.011-05:002011-06-27T22:58:01.023-05:00Come together, Overton...Saturday's public meeting got great media coverage from the Commercial Appeal and Memphis Daily News.If you missed it, there's a second meeting tomorrow -- Tuesday, June 28, 5pm-7pm -- at the Memphis College of Art's Rust Hall, in the heart of Overton Park.Drop in to fill out the (short and sweet) Speak Up! survey and get an awesome free t-shirt, or take the survey online at overtonpark.org. Our Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-32108577017240882142011-06-21T08:22:00.004-05:002011-06-21T08:28:35.377-05:00Speak Up!Share your vision for Overton Park's future by joining your neighbors at an open-house meeting: this Saturday, June 25, 10am-Noon, and next week Tuesday, June 28, 5pm-7pm, at the Memphis College of Art's Rust Hall. Visit overtonpark.org for more info.Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-72962305330969475672011-06-08T08:42:00.004-05:002011-06-08T08:54:00.305-05:00Signed, sealed, delivered.Governor Haslam has signed the Old Forest State Natural Area bill into law. It's official, people!Thanks again to the hundreds of awesome citizens and elected officials who made this happen, and most especially to Sen. Beverly Marrero and Rep. Jeanne Richardson for never giving up.Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-54924937368050394802011-05-20T21:30:00.002-05:002011-05-20T22:11:52.932-05:00It's a beautiful day...The Old Forest State Natural Area legislation passed the Tennessee House today, 94-0! Since it already passed the Senate (32-0), this means 126 acres of the Old Forest will become Tennessee's 82nd State Natural Area as soon as Governor Haslam signs the bill.It's taken 16 months of hard work from many wonderful people to give our 10,000-year-old forest the legal protection that it deserves, but Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-68117948685228939982011-05-03T10:43:00.003-05:002016-03-29T22:23:47.251-05:00Everything old is new again!In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe U.S. Supreme Court decision, we've reproduced a vintage CPOP shirt from the 1970s.
Thanks to the great people at Bluff City Sports for spiffing up the original design for us!
We will mail you this fabulous shirt as a thank-you gift when you donate $15 or more to CPOP. You can fill out the handy form below to Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-77938514779518432742011-04-14T08:40:00.002-05:002011-04-14T11:45:13.637-05:00Another hurdle cleared!Yesterday the Old Forest State Natural Area bill was approved unanimously by committees in both the House and Senate of our state legislature. You can read the nitty-gritty in today's Commercial Appeal.THANK YOU to everyone who is pulling together to make this happen for our community: Sen. Beverly Marrero, Rep. Jeanne Richardson, Sen. Mark Norris, and many other state legislators; Mayor AC Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-48917983797215522242011-04-02T19:45:00.000-05:002011-04-02T19:49:45.500-05:00Mayor Wharton ❤ the Old ForestWe have truly awesome news for y'all — Mayor AC Wharton is supporting the Old Forest State Natural Area! This means we have an excellent chance at getting state legislation passed within the next month that will protect 126 acres of the Old Forest from future bulldozers.As you know from our FAQ and many blog posts, our goal was to include the fenced 17 acres in the State Natural Area designation.Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-71858544900338255282011-03-30T09:41:00.003-05:002011-03-30T09:57:47.386-05:00At the LibraryThe lovely and talented archivists of the Memphis Public Library have assembled a great historical collection of Overton Park postcards. You may click on each of the below images for a closer view, or visit their blog to browse the whole collection.Let's rebuild this amazing playground/deathtrap! Our kids need more giant slides in their lives.Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425913900816905740.post-91803363443411567372011-03-09T15:38:00.007-06:002011-03-09T16:06:21.693-06:00Hug a (landmark) treeSeveral years ago, we collaborated with Memphis Park Services and Park Friends Inc. to nominate the Old Forest for the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council "Landmark Trees" registry, and TUFC said yes. It took a little while to make it to their website, but here it is!Old Forest of Overton Park, MemphisNominated by the City of Memphis (Memphis Park Services Division), Park Friends, Inc., and the Naomi Van Tolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132516900840559976noreply@blogger.com0