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City staff outline plumbing and drainage failures at Overton Park; repairs planned at Shell within 30 days
Summary
City departments told the council that aging underground plumbing and several damaged drainage pipes have caused restroom failures and low pressure at Overton Park. Staff said they will perform televised inspections, develop a phased repair plan, and begin repairs at the Overton Park Shell restroom within about 30 days.
City officials briefed a Memphis City Council committee on April 8 about plumbing and drainage problems at Overton Park that have forced temporary restroom closures and prompted an assessment of the park’s underground infrastructure.
Amy Collier, interim deputy director for Memphis Parks, and Melvin Jamerson of General Services told the committee that crews had found a collapsed sewer connection near the Overton Park Shell and damaged drainage pipes connected to the Metal Museum construction site. Jamerson said the Rainbow Lake restrooms had experienced low water pressure that staff temporarily addressed but that the cause requires further investigation.
“What we have here… are aging and failing underground plumbing systems,” Jamerson said. He told council members the next steps include a full plumbing assessment of park lines, televised inspections to map drainage and problem areas, a scope of work and cost estimates, and development of a phased repair plan.
Jamerson said repairs to plumbing affecting the Overton Park Shell would proceed quickly: “We are making those repairs, over the next 30 days at the Shell.” Collier said temporary restroom systems are in place at Rainbow Lake while crews investigate and repair the deeper problem.
Council members asked for a prioritized list of deferred maintenance across the city’s parks, with health and safety items highlighted for the upcoming budget process. Collin Logan asked staff to return with a prioritized deferred-maintenance list spanning imminent compliance or safety issues, high-priority repairs and lower-priority needs.
Staff made no formal appropriation request at the briefing; they said they will develop cost estimates and return to the council for project funding when scoped.
