Culture

Southern Hospitality Meets Big-City Convenience in This Memphis Suburb

Mayor A. Keith McDonald of Bartlett says Bartlett maintains a sense of community.

Bartlett may be Tennessee’s ninth-largest city‚ but residents will tell you it feels more like Mayberry than a Memphis suburb with a population nearing 50‚000.

In fact‚ CNN’s Money magazine listed Bartlett among its Top 100 places to live for 2007 when considering smaller cities that offer the best combination of economic opportunity‚ good schools‚ safe streets‚ things to do and a sense of community.

“There’s been a great deal of movement into our community over the last several decades – we grew from about 5‚000 to almost 50‚000 in the last 20 years‚” says Bartlett Mayor A. Keith McDonald. “They come here because it’s clean and safe‚ and we have great schools‚ stable property values and a great parks system. People are proud of that.”

Newcomers are also drawn to Bartlett’s friendly atmosphere. Despite the city’s rapid growth‚ neighbors still take time to visit on front porches and stop to chat at backyard fences.

“We promote neighborhoods‚ not subdivisions‚ because we’re working to make people feel that what’s great about your neighborhood is your neighbor‚” McDonald says. “It’s important for people not to cocoon themselves‚ but to learn who their neighbors are and depend on each other‚ even if you don’t like the way he cuts his grass or trims his bushes.”

That sense of community is evident in a number of highly anticipated annual events the city sponsors‚ including a fall festival‚ Christmas parade and Fourth of July celebration.

“This is a really family-oriented place. I’ve been here 36 years‚ and my children and grandchildren are here. And I’m not alone‚” McDonald says. “When you go to events‚ you sense it’s a multigenerational place because you see grandparents bringing their grandchildren.”

Bartlett’s aesthetic appeal is another asset that attracts newcomers. Residents take pride in beautifying their neighborhoods. In early spring‚ a handful of homeowners participate in the annual Bartlett in Bloom Home Garden Tour‚ when they open their gardens to the community.

Jim and Judy Knight had their home in the tour for the first time in 2007.

“Bartlett is prettier than most places‚” says Jim Knight‚ a microbiologist for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “It starts with the city itself. Bartlett has a real commitment to keeping parks clean and planting lots of flowers in common areas‚ and that causes residents to care more.”

The Knights moved to Bartlett for Jim’s work‚ but the area’s quality of life is what has kept them here for 21 years.

“We have three grown children‚ and the city has lots of activities for kids‚” he says. “That kept our children busy.”

With so many recreation opportunities‚ Bartlett can keep anyone busy. The parks and recreation department maintains 24 parks‚ 17 baseball and softball fields‚ 14 tennis courts‚ a dozen soccer fields and 10 miles of walking trails. Easthill Park is handicap accessible‚ and the 350-acre Nesbit Park features a nationally renowned 11-mile‚ off-road biking trail that hosts national biking events a couple times each year.

“All the entrances to our parks are landscaped with flowering trees‚ shrubs and plants‚ and the Eagle Scouts are redoing all our park signs and putting plant beds around them‚” says David Thompson‚ director of Parks and Recreation.

Like the Knights‚ Thompson moved to Bartlett for work 10 years ago and fell in love with the city.

“It doesn’t feel like a city with a population close to 50‚000. It has a down-home atmosphere‚” he says. “Most of the neighborhoods have joined together. You have a feeling you belong here.”

Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Woodie S. Knight

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