Memphis mayor Wharton provides Fairgrounds update
Memphis Business Journal
Rendering of the proposed 'great lawn'
Memphis mayor A C Wharton e-mailed a letter which outlined the city’s current and future plans for the former Mid-South Fairgrounds. Wharton wrote that over the past year, city officials have conducted dozens of meetings with community members and stakeholders to determine a new vision and forward course for the Fairgrounds. He said these community input sessions will result in a comprehensive development plan which could include a mix of retail, green space and family-friendly sports amenities. “As soon as details of this plan are made public this spring, we will select a project manager to bring this vision to life,” wrote Wharton, who has routinely updated constituents on public matters since taking office.
The city has cleared away structures at Libertyland and is planning two additional packages of demolition during the spring and summer. This demolition will include barns and other structures which were once used by the Mid-South Fair. The city will announce the demolition schedule no later than March 1. The city is working to help relocate the tenants of those facilities, including the flea market, Memphis Roller Derby and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl luncheon. After demolition, the city is planning a "great lawn" that will extend from North Parkway to the entrance of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Some asphalt near Libertyland will be seeded and sodded this spring and summer so that it can be used as parking for all Liberty Bowl events this year.
Green Bay, Wis., mayor Jim Schmitt has indicated that he will make a recommendation to his city council to move forward with the purchase of the Zippin Pippin. That would result in some of the roller coaster's wood and other decorative elements being resurrected at the Beach Bay Amusement Park in Green Bay, according to Wharton’s letter. In the meantime, the Zippin Pippin's wood will be cut, stacked, and safely stored in a weather-proof environment off-site.
Wharton’s letter also addressed the future of the Mid-South Coliseum, which the city closed in 2006 because of the prohibitive cost of bringing the venue into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Although this is clearly a facility that holds a special place in the hearts of many Memphians, we do not believe that we have the financial wherewithal to make the necessary upgrades to re-open the Coliseum, nor is it apparent that sufficient market demand exists in Memphis for a venue of its size to be open year-round,” Wharton said. “Our intention now is to convene a public hearing to determine the best options for its future, which may include its eventual demolition.”