Today, August 12, 2009 is a Great Day in the history of Memphis ! The County signed the official paperwork with CSX RR to purchase the first 7-mile section of the Greater Memphis Greenline, from Poplar/Walnut Grove to Shelby Farms Park. See the story here.

Greater Memphis Greenline, Inc. (GMGI) is now working on some other projects, including first, with the help of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, negotiating with Union Pacific RR to purchase a 2+-mile section of unused rail in North Memphis, and secondly, promoting a series of bikelane/walkways to create an interconnected Memphis and Shelby County. We also will be prepared to negotiate with other RR’s as unused track comes available. We will also be working with MLG&W in the future to develop as many of the 400 miles of easements into trails as is possible.

We need your help on many levels.

First, we need a few volunteers for the upcoming Cooper-Young Festival, Saturday, September 19. We will, as usual, have three shifts: 9 AM to 12, 12 to 3, and 3 to closing. If you are interested, please email me back at bschrei1@bellsouth.net with when you might be free to volunteer.

Secondly, we will have a fundraiser for the GMGI at Otherlands on Saturday, October 10. We will send out more details later, but please mark your calendars.

Thirdly, we are organizing our committees to work with Shelby Farms to help design “phase 2,” if you will – public amenities. If you are interested in participating, please let us know.

Lastly, we are accepting nominations for two at-large members to our Board of Directors. If you would like to participate at this level, please email us your qualifications.