Nationally, the city of Memphis is one of the fattest cities in America. More than a third of its residents are categorized as obese. However, the creation of the Shelby Farms Greenline began the transition of Memphians from fat to fit.

The Greenline is a seven-mile trail that runs from Midtown Memphis to Shelby Farms Park, providing Memphians with the opportunity to exercise in a safe environment. Before the Greenline, there was little open recreational space in the city. Since its opening, the Greenline has been wildly successful.

As a result of its success, the city of Memphis has decided to expand the project even further. The Hampline will be a two-mile trail linking the western edge of the Shelby Farms Greenline with the existing trails in Overton Park. The Hampline’s protected trails will eliminate obstacles, such as cars, that have threatened bikers in the past.

This addition will extend the Greenline’s reach in Memphis, providing more residents with exercising opportunities. Andrew Gruber (12), an avid biker in the Memphis community, believes the Hampline will “be a great benefit for the city” because it will promote biking and support local shops along the route.

The Hampline is actually the link to a larger plan. Developers hope to expand the Greenline’s route to the Mississippi River in the next few years. This plan has made Memphis one of the best examples of innovation with bike trails in the nation. This plan would include the renovation of the Harahan Bridge, an old railroad track connecting Memphis to Arkansas, into a pedestrian bridge.

For Gruber, biking has served as “a stress reliever that wipes away [his] worries.” He sees the Hampline as a step in the right direction that will encourage Memphians to take up biking.  With the creation of the Greenline and Hampline, the city of Memphis is sending a clear message that fitness is crucial to eliminate the city’s “obese” label.