MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A sign of revival in a corner of the city mostly known for crime.
Bike lanes are coming to New Chicago and the Evergreen area.
Now one local group hopes to make this stretch extra special with a massive mural.
This neighborhood is a part of town known for blight and crime, not art and exercise.
A local group is hoping to change that, and they are starting with a flood wall.
There is a lot of overgrown grass and shrubs along Chelsea.
It’s the future home of the Chelsea Green Line connecting the New Chicago neighborhood with Midtown, via bike lanes.
The Greater Memphis Greenline has plans for paved trails, stops signs and landscaping once the project’s complete, but there’s a lot left to do.
Rodney Miller has seen a lot of changes in his neighborhood.
“The younger generations have moved in, and they are not worried about the upkeep of the community,” he explained.
Miller remembers when the city put in a bike lane on Merchant Street in the 1970’s.
It didn’t last long.
“All of that turned into a lot of brush, and there was a lot of criminal activity going on down there,” Miller said.
Neighbors hope this time it’s different.
A group called Paint Memphis does too.
It plans to add nearly a half mile of murals along the lane.
John Byers says a lot of people ride their bikes on this busy road, including kids.
“It will be a good thing to put a lane down,” Byers added, “For their safety.”
Local artists will get to work July 18th to turn these whitewashed walls into a sign of revival for all of Memphis.
Neighbors are already looking forward to it, they hope the community embraces this change.
“The police are going to do their part, but it’s up to the citizens to get involved and do their half,” Miller said.
Paint Memphis is still looking for artists to fill the wall.
If you’re interested CLICK HERE for more details.
