The Shelby Farms Greenline Through East Memphis

East Memphis has plenty of parks, but one of its most-used outdoor spaces is not a park in the usual sense. It is a long, paved ribbon that used to be a railroad. The Shelby Farms Greenline cuts across the northern side of East Memphis on its way from the edge of Midtown to Shelby Farms Park and on to Cordova. If you live near it, or are thinking about it, here is what to know.

Where the Greenline runs

According to Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, which manages the trail, the Greenline is now nearly 13 miles of paved path. It begins at Tillman Street near Walnut Grove Road, on the Binghampton side of town, and ends at the old Cordova depot at B Street and Macon Road.

The first 6.5 miles opened in October 2010 on an unused rail bed, and the trail has been extended since then. Because it follows a former rail line, the grade is gentle and the route is mostly straight, which makes it comfortable for walking, running and casual bike rides.

East Memphis access points

The conservancy lists fifteen entry points along the full route. Heading east from the start, the ones that serve East Memphis neighborhoods are:

Tillman Street, the western trailhead.

Highland Street.

High Point Terrace, which puts the trail within a short walk of the High Point Terrace neighborhood.

Graham Street.

Waring Road.

Podesta Street.

Past Podesta, the trail continues to Sycamore View and then crosses into Shelby Farms Park near Farm Road and Mullins Station Road. Parking is limited at some neighborhood entrances, so if you are driving to the trail, check the conservancy's map for the best place to leave a car.

What it connects to

Part of the Greenline's appeal is where it can take you. On the west end, the Hampline uses Tillman Street and Broad Avenue to link the Greenline with the Broad Avenue Arts District and Overton Park. On the east end, the trail reaches Shelby Farms Park, where the conservancy says more than 30 additional miles of trails are waiting, along with a connection to the Wolf River Greenway.

That means a person living near Highland or Graham can get on a bike in East Memphis and ride to a lake, a museum district or a neighborhood restaurant without spending much time on busy streets. It is worth trying the route yourself before assuming how long a ride will take.

Homes near the trail

The neighborhoods along this stretch of East Memphis were mostly built in the middle of the twentieth century. Near the western access points you will see cottages and bungalows on modest lots. Farther east, around Waring and Podesta, ranch-style homes on wider lots become more common. Mature trees are a consistent feature throughout.

If a home's closeness to the Greenline is part of what draws you to it, a few practical checks are worth making:

Find the nearest entrance. A house can sit very close to the trail on a map and still be a long walk from an actual access point.

Look at what is behind the lot. Some yards back up directly to the trail corridor. Visit on a weekend afternoon to get a feel for activity and privacy.

Ask about drainage. Old rail corridors sometimes sit higher or lower than neighboring lots. A good inspection and a look at the yard after rain can tell you a lot.

Plan for updates. With homes of this era, ask about the age of the roof, heating and cooling, plumbing and electrical service, and whether additions were permitted.

Everyday details

Homes in this part of East Memphis are inside the City of Memphis, so owners pay both city and county property taxes, and Memphis Light, Gas and Water provides utilities. Memphis-Shelby County Schools serves the area. School zoning is by address, so confirm assignments directly with the district.

For getting around by car, Walnut Grove Road, Summer Avenue, Sam Cooper Boulevard and Poplar Avenue are the main east-west routes nearby, and I-240 is a short drive from most of these neighborhoods.

If you are weighing a move near the Greenline, or already own a home along it and are wondering what comes next, I am glad to be a sounding board. No agenda, just helpful information whenever you want it.

Kelly Day, SRES, SRS, AHWD, PSA, RENE
Multi Million Dollar Club
Broker Lic # 365811
simpliHOM
901-289-9227
855-856-9466
[email protected]
https://memphishouselistings.com