DAVID WATERS

David Waters: Zoo saves greensward? Not quite

David Waters
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

ZOOTOPIA: People who drove by the Memphis Zoo Sunday afternoon were shocked by the sight.

A long line of parked cars stretching nearly from Evergreen to McLean on North Parkway.

"Cars were parked on North Parkway this afternoon as late as 4:30 all the way past University. I was so proud," one person posted on the Stop Hurting Overton Park Facebook page.

People who went to Overton Park Sunday afternoon were equally shocked by what they saw.

A car-free greensward filled with kids, dogs and other living things on a beautiful, warm, sunny day.

"They didn't use the greensward at all yesterday. It was very strange. 'Parking Lot Full' signs were up early, maybe before noon," another person posted.

Some credited park lover Scott Springer, who posted a photograph last week of the zoo's new walk-up entrance on North Parkway.

His Facebook post also noted that free parking was available on North Parkway. The post was shared more than 2,500 times.

"I didn't mention the Greensward. If I had it probably would have had no legs," he said.

It had legs. Social media was filled with hope.

Had zoo officials finally seen the intrinsic and aesthetic value of a large, open, green meadow in a popular public park?

Were zoo officials redirecting traffic from the $5 spots on the greensward to the new free parking lane alongside the zoo's northern border?

Were zoo lovers taking advantage of the tiny new entrance shack on North Parkway?

Was this a March Madness miracle?

None of the above, as it turns out.

"The reason the zoo did not use the greensward for parking Sunday was because it was wet," said spokesperson Kelli Brignac.

"They had to turn away at least 700 cars and it actually resulted in several complaints -- including from members, some of whom said they just went home altogether."

A car-less greensward on a sunny day at Overton Park

Too bad. They could have parked right next to the zoo. For free.

Parked cars along North Parkway next to the zoo

DISJOINTED: Our state legislators have taken brave and bold action against drugs.

No, not against opioids, overdoses of which are killing more Tennesseans than are car wrecks.

Not against heroin, even though Tennessee had the third highest increased rate in overdose deaths last year.

Not against meth or cocaine or any other dangerous narcotics that are wreaking havoc on Tennessee families and communities.

They took action against marijuana.

Marijuana isn’t harmless. Like alcohol, it can impair coordination, reason and judgment, lower inhibitions and interfere with brain development, especially in minors.

But alcohol is more likely to interact badly with other drugs. Medical studies have shown that marijuana is no more likely than PBR or Percocet to be a “gateway drug.”

And users can’t fatally overdose on pot. A death caused by a marijuana overdose has never been reported, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Still, the state Senate voted 26-5 Monday evening to nullify local laws that decriminalized possession of very small amounts of marijuana in Memphis and Nashville.

The state House voted 65-28 last week to do the same.

Makes you wonder what they're smoking up there at the state Capitol.

A Google Street View car in Memphis

GOOGLE EYES: I'd seen it once before, the little Easter-egg colored car with the multi-eyed Martian sticking out of the roof.

I caught a glimpse of it moving quickly past my house and down my street last May, but it was gone in a flash.

When I saw it again Tuesday morning moving down McLean, I was ready.

I jumped in my car and pursued as it turned left on Mignon, then right on University.

The long light at University and North Parkway gave me time to catch up.

I pulled up beside it and took a photo of the Google Street View car.

I don't think it even noticed.

2017 Vanderhaar Symposium

WORTH YOUR TIME: Blessed are the peacemakers, especially when they collaborate.

That's what four peacemaking Memphis institutions are doing this weekend, in the names of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Gerard Vanderhaar.

It's the first time the annual Gandhi-King Conference, the annual Vanderhaar Symposium, the National Civil Rights Museum, and Christian Brothers University have worked together to commemorate King's 1968 death in Memphis.

The result will be a two-day series of speeches, discussions and workshops called "Know Justice, Know Peace" this Friday and Saturday.

The main speakers are Shaka Senghor, an ex-felon and author of "Writing My Wrongs"; and Valerie Kaur, an award-winning filmmaker, civil rights lawyer and Sikh thought leader.

All events are free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Find a complete schedule and registration information at cbu.edu/vanderhaar or gandhikingconference.org or civilrightsmuseum.org.