Help us take steps to connect the Greenline to the Farmers Market at Agricenter International by raising funds to remove a gate and installed bollards so bicyclists can have an accessible path.
Leader
Christine Donhardt
Location
7777 Walnut Grove Rd Memphis, TN 38120
Did you know there is a partially unpaved bicycle trail at Agricenter International that parallels Walnut Grove from Farm Road to the Farmers Market? The long-range goal is to pave this trail, pending grant funding in 2017 or 2018. This trail will ultimately connect the Greenline with the Farmers Market. In the meantime, Agricenter wants to make this trail more user-friendly. By raising $3,640, we will be able to remove a gate on the bike trail and replace it with 4-5 bollards to allow easier access for bikes while still keeping vehicles out. Access on this trail is a need the community has and we look toward those who are able to give to join us in this endeavor. We are encouraging all to give here through this platform.
The funds will be matched by IOBY and Livable Memphis dollar for dollar up to $150 per gift.
A gift of $10 will become $20, a gift of $150 will become $300, and a gift of $200 will become $350.
After funding is raised, we will purchase bollards. Maintenance crew will remove the gate and install the bollards. If our funding goals are exceeded, we will use the remainder to (1) install the 2 new bike racks we will receive in the spring (these will go at the Farmers' Market and at the Strawberry Picking field) and (2) purchase signage that is at the trail head near Farm Road that will direct bikes onto the path.
As an endorser of the Greenprint 2015/2040 plan, Agricenter International wants to connect bike paths on the property to contribute to the overall regional vision of a connected community. The gate was originally placed to prevent trespassing of vehicles after dark. However since the gate is closed at all hours, it prevents bicyclists from passing through during the day. With the bollards, we can achieve both goals.
A secondary challenge is the limited signage letting bicyclists know there is a path to the Farmers' Market. In the near future we plan to pave the 3,800 foot segment of the trail and establish better wayfinding. The bike racks we will receive will allow bikes to park at the two destinations along the route (Farmers' Market and Strawberry Picking fields).
Agricenter International is a non-profit dedicated to agricultural research and education. We educate more than 4,000 school children a year about where their food and fiber comes from. We provide bus scholarships to the schools to pay for the students to travel to our facility. If you are a teacher and would like to book a field trip please call us at 901-757-7777.
*Special thanks to 901Drones for providing this excellent video flyover.