Edmund Orgill Park was opened in 1972 and is managed by the Shelby County Conservation Board, a…read morecitizen appointed board of the County of Shelby government. The park is named for Edmund Orgill (1899-1983), a progressive Mayor of the City of Memphis in the middle of the twentieth, who fostered better race relations. The Orgill name has been a fixture on the Memphis business scene for nearly two centuries, and Orgill Brothers (Orgill Inc.) is the oldest running business. The hardware distributor was founded in 1847 when the city was less than thirty years old with a population of less than 10,000 citizens. Orgill Brothers sold about anything a pioneer family would need.
Orgill Park is composed of 440 acres of rolling meadows, lakeside vistas, paths and shady spaces for all kinds of outdoor recreation enjoyment. Casper Lake is a 67-acre centerpiece for fishing and boating activities, allowing kayaks, canoes and fishing boats (non-motorized except for trolling motors). There is a fishing pier and the lake is stocked with largemouth bass, bream, sunfish, and catfish. There is a boat launch ramp with ample parking for trailers and guests. All TWRA rules (including fishing permits) apply to the use of Casper Lake.
A 1.2-mile road meanders through the center of Orgill Park and around the east side of Casper Lake connecting Mudville Road (on the north side) with Kerrville-Rosemark Road (on the south side). There are acres of open spaces throughout the grounds for free play and any leisure activities, such as bicycling, jogging (a 5K Trail), walking, yoga, kite-flying, disk tossing, etc. Three covered pavilions with picnic tables are available for rental. A 2.84-acre pond is stocked during the Winter months with trout.
[Review #698] (22nd Review of 2023)