Overton Park

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At the heart of Midtown, one of the liveliest neighborhoods in Memphis, is Overton Park. Overton Park has always been an important part of the urban lifestyle in Memphis. It is an inviting place which attracts high numbers of visitors every day. Ever since my freshman year and my first year here in Memphis, Overton Park has been one of my favorite places to go to. Considering that it is the largest public park in Memphis, I think that Overton Park is a perfect location for this assignment. I decided to take a walk in the park on a weekday evening, in order to observe the interactions between the people that use this public space the most, people who spend time here on a regular basis. This paper will show why Overton Park is such an accessible …show more content…

Also, the park includes a nine-hole golf course, Rainbow Lake, Veterans Plaza, the Greensward, two playgrounds, and a 126-acre Old Forest State Natural Area. All of these things make it a very lively location. Overton is safe. As a newcomer to the United States and to Memphis, Overton Park gave me a sense of security and safety that few other places managed to give me, as soon as I first walked through it. The Memphis Police Department always has cars patrolling the area. However, that feeling of safety that I got did not necessarily come from the presence of police officers or security guards there. The location is so big and so important to the city that it imposes a strong sense of community with all the visitors so people tend to be nice, friendly and polite to each other. And like Jacob says in his work “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”, Overton Park is safe because there are plenty of eyes on the street in this area constantly. Overton is sustainable. The park features numerous bicycle lanes, a few parking lots and a bus station that gives you quick access to the city’s public transportation system. If you want to get there by bus you can either hop on the 50 bus that runs up and down Poplar and hop off right in the middle of the park, take the 53 bus and hop off at the North Parkway entrance, or, if you don’t mind a short walk, hop off the 56 on Union. The presence of everything mentioned above makes it quite easy to find your way to the park’s Midtown location, regardless of where you live in the city. Finally, this public space provides a lot of green areas and fresh air to give you a break from the pollution of the city, inviting its visitors to a healthy experience. Moreover, there are numerous paths and alleyways that can be used freely by running or jogging enthusiasts. Like most parks, Overton is an inspiring and pleasant place to exercise and improve physical and mental wellbeing for

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