By Sheree Stubblefield
Cooper-Young Community Association wouldn’t be what it is without our neighbors. They volunteer. They own businesses. They contribute their ideas and their passion to the Cooper-Young community. Each month, we will highlight a Member of the Month who gives back and embodies the spirit of our hip, historic community.
The MOTM for April is a bit of a legend in Cooper-Young. Kim Halyak, creator and organizer of the Cooper-Young Garden Walk, talks to us about gardening, the importance of beauty, and why you should attend the walk, which is coming up next month. If you would like to be involved in what makes CYCA great or recommend a Member of the Month, email info@cooperyoung.org.
How long have you lived in Cooper-Young?
Bill, my husband, and I have lived in Cooper-Young since about 2005, although he owned the house and used it as a rental before that.
What is your favorite thing about CY?
There are so many things I love about the neighborhood: the beautiful, tree-lined-streets, the diversity of my neighbors, the close proximity to restaurants, the hubbub of weekly events.
What is your favorite CY event of the year and why?
I may be biased, but my favorite CY event is our annual Cooper-Young Garden Walk, now going into its fourth year. This event is put on by the Cooper-Young Garden Club to recognizing residents and businesses that beautify their outdoor spaces and for raising money for future beautification projects.
Why is the garden walk good for the neighborhood?
The garden walk is a spotlight that brings hundreds of visitors from all over the Mid-South and beyond to our special neighborhood. They come to see our quaint, quirky, colorful gardens so they can take home ideas to use in their own gardens. Of course, they also discover our diverse, delicious eateries, breweries, and shops to. Our garden walk grows community pride as new homes put their gardens on the walk. Property values go up as homeowners continue to improve their outdoor spaces.
Where can we find you on a Friday or Saturday night in CY?
I love just about any cuisine while my husband prefers more traditional. You may see us at Celtic Crossing, Central BBQ, Sweetgrass, Young Avenue Deli, Elwood’s Shack, Stone Soup or sitting on our back screened porch, sipping beers, watching the sun go down.
What neighborhood activities do you participate in?
I belong to the Cooper-Young Garden Club, chair the garden walk, write garden articles for the Lamplighter, attend the monthly retirees group breakfast, and recently joined the Cooper-Young Women 55+ group. Recently my husband and I participated in organizing the newly formed weekly bike ride around Cooper-Young neighborhood. So many interesting people in our neighborhood. It’s a great way to form close friendships.
What do you want to see happen in CY in the future?
Wow, how much time do you have? I’d love to see everyone who lives in our neighborhood use their time and talents to enhance our neighborhood.
Much time is wasted complaining on Nextdoor. Take your passions or frustrations and come up with solutions. If you have a good idea, act on it, and know others with follow. Make it a goal to really discover Cooper-Young this year. Have you sampled every restaurant and shop at least once? Have you walked or biked every block in Cooper-Young? Do you actively participate in neighborhood groups? If not, now is the year to do it.
Of course, my passion is beautiful, functional front and back gardens. Can you ever have too many flowers? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every business in Cooper-Young had hanging baskets or outdoor containers full of colorful flowers? Wouldn’t our whole neighborhood become beautiful if everyone filled their outdoor spaces with baskets or containers? This year, I would love to see every resident in Cooper-Young tour all the beautiful garden spaces on this year’s garden walk. Why? Because you will go home with doable, creative ways to enhance your personal space. Along the way, you’ll run into old friends and new, and you’ll be putting your heart into the space you call home.
Where can readers purchase tickets for the Garden Walk?
You have three ways to get tickets to this year’s walk: Order online at https://cygardenwalk.eventsmart.com/events/cy-garden-walk-2019/. Purchase your tickets (cash or check only) at Palladio Gardens, Stone Soup Cafe, or at the Cooper-Young Business Association at 2120 Young Avenue. Or mail a check to: Katie McHaney, 803 S. Cox, Memphis, TN 38104.
Early bird tickets are only $15 for a two-day ticket and you get a chance to win a “Staycation Memphis” package valued at over $500. It includes a one-night stay in the Captain Harris House Airbnb, two tickets to Graceland, two 1 -hour massages from Midtown Massage, two gift certificates to the Beauty Shop, one gift certificate to Elwood’s Shells, and one gift certificate to Stone Soup Cafe. The last day to win is May. 5.
