SHELBY FARMS RIBBON CUTTING

When project leaders for Shelby Farms Park "Heart of the Park" initiative were ready to unveil the park’s massive renovations to the public, they looked to the one event company that truly embodies the heart of Memphis to lay the groundwork.

Memphis is extremely proud to be home to one of the largest urban parks in the world—Shelby Farms Park, 4,500 acres of green space. A community treasure, unrivaled in size and potential anywhere else in the United State, Shelby Farms Park is much larger than both London’s Hyde Park and New York’s Central Park. It is literally a home where the buffalo roam.

In 2014, the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (SFPC) began construction on the largest capital improvement to the park ever. On September 1, 2016, it was time to cut the ribbon and introduce the public to the park's new, vast amenities. SFPC tapped LEO to coordinate the plans and bring the big scissors.

The Heart of the Park improvements were spread throughout the grounds. SFPC challenged LEO to design a day that showcased each one and kept guests interested in moving from locale to locale.

LEO launched the event with a successive brunch that continued from venue to venue as visitors traveled from place to place. With special treats awaiting guests at each stop, their journey began at the new visitor’s center. The center provided a beautiful view of the newly expanded lake and the ideal location for the stage and ribbon cutting. Once the park dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting ended, the successive brunch continued with visitors choosing where to roam to next. Guides directed guests to locations along the way including the newly constructed boathouse and waterfront stage.