Star Staff Reports
Taming Millington’s Big Creek
“Making Room for the River,” will be the upcoming lecture from guest speaker Tom Needham of the Building Systems Group.
The lecture will be hosted by FUMC Creation Care Team and take place at the First United Methodist Church – Williams Hall located at 8029 Wilkinsville Road in Millington (Millington Flood Control and Recreational Opportunity/Q & A Millington Residential and Commercial Development – Houses, Apartments, Potential businesses). The event is scheduled to last from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and is free to the public. Below is an excerpt from the lecture.
In 1873 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad built a line connecting Covington to Memphis.
A settlement called Glencoe grew up along this route and was located where Church Street now crosses the railroad.
Unfortunately, this was very near Big Creek which frequently flooded and the town was moved north to where Easley Street meets the railroad and was renamed Millington.
Over the years Millington slowly grew to again be alongside Big Creek and subject to frequent flooding.
In 2010, following 16 inches of rain, businesses, homes and the Navy facility all suffered damages from flooding. And flooding of the Mississippi River worsens this risk by slowing the flow from Big Creek.
The increased effects of climate change will mean more flooding with lives disrupted in our community. There are actions taking place to decrease future flooding and make Millington a more secure and comfortable community.
The city of Millington, Shelby County, the Millington Industrial Development Board and the Millington Airport Authority have acquired millions of dollars in grant money which is being used to upgrade our city’s infrastructure and better control flood risks.
There will also be a multipurpose recreation area that will include soccer fields, playgrounds, disc golf and pedestrian and bicycle trails.
You can learn about this as well as other developments coming to our city by coming to Williams Hall on March 19. This program is free and open to the entire community so invite your neighbors.
For additional information call 901-872-2609
