Mark's Park: Autism park in Collierville a longtime labor of love

Joe and Gayle Ennis bought their property on Springmont Trail in Collierville more than a decade ago with several objectives in mind.

It would be where Gayle's parents would live, where Joe and Gayle would retire and move back to Shelby County.

And it is where Joe could realize his dream of building Mark's Park, a special, "humorous" nature park built exclusively for children and adults with autism.

The park is named in honor of Joe and Gayle's 36-year-old autistic son, Mark, who is also deaf and is "like a 4-year-old," Joe said. The park will accommodate up to four autistic kids for about two hours, along with their parents or guardians.

"About 12 years ago, I bought this property. My wife's parents sold their home in Memphis and moved out here. And there’s all this acreage that went with it. It struck me then about doing something and planning my retirement and giving back," Joe said. "The goal is to simply help some autistic kids."

The park

Mark's Park is an integral part of the family's 30-plus-acre property with woods, two lakes and a creek.

They're building a 4,400-square-foot addition to their home, with space for an office and a massive gathering room for the children and parents with a fireplace, window seat and soaring 22-foot ceilings.

An adjoining porch is where they'll "plant, prune and pick," Joe said.

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The lake is stocked, and the kids will be able to feed the fish. A bridge will connect the shoreline to an island at the center of the lake where there will be a gazebo.

Joe plans to transport the kids through the woods in carts that in a previous life moved Northwest Airlines passengers through Memphis International Airport. They are being outfitted with seat belts to travel the park's mulched paths. In the woods, there will be stopping points for a pollinator garden, a picnic area, a pretend campground and an outdoor reading room.

Joe intends to work with churches, schools and whatever agencies contact them.

"The plan is that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays — weather permitting and it's not too cold or raining — we will be open by appointment only for autistic kids," Joe said. "I'm learning there's a huge demand for this."

The couple has already invested more than $1 million for the project — that doesn't include the purchase price for the house and land. They've set aside $500,000 for the nonprofit that's been established to run the park.

The addition to their home cost about $800,000.

"We don't know," Gayle said. "It changes by the day."

What is autism?

April is National Autism Awareness Month, but for the Ennis family it's every month, Joe said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes autism spectrum disorder as a "developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges." It occurs in all racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups, but is most prevalent in boys.

Before the 1980s, autism was thought to be rare, occurring in one out of every 2,000 children. Now, the CDC puts the number at one in every 68 children, making it the fastest-growing developmental disability in the country.

Although there have been theories on why autism develops, the CDC has said the cause is still unknown.

But Joe isn't convinced there is not some connection between Mark's autism and his difficult birth.

"I was in labor for what, 18 hours," Gayle said.

Joe realized something was wrong with the baby's hearing when Mark wasn't bothered by the blaring speakers at a car auction.

"His first birthday he got hearing aids," Gayle said.

"And somewhere between his second birthday, he would flush them down the commode. And laugh. And those things were like $600, and there was no insurance," Joe said.

A case worker advised them Mark had something else going on besides his deafness.

"Back then, they had beliefs that just ripped us apart," Gayle said. "They would ask me questions like did you want him, did you look at him when you were nursing him, did you hold him, did you love him?"

Then, the thought was that perhaps a mother's attitude and behavior toward her baby was a contributor to autism.

"Of course, now they say no, that's not the case," Gayle said. "Times have changed a lot in 36 years."

The family

Joe, 67, and Gayle, 66, are both from Memphis and married in 1972. After graduating from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis), Joe worked in the tool industry, moving to Texas with Stanley Hand Tools and eventually working in New York where he became a partner in General Tools & Instruments.

Mark is a middle child with an older and a younger sister. They lived in New Jersey while he was growing up.

Joe traveled a lot for work while Gayle held down the fort. But Joe also had his own rituals with Mark that continue today. There is a nightly story time, and over the years, they've amassed a collection of at least 2,000 children's books, which will be part of the the park's programming.

It's how he learned of his son's sense of humor.

"If I called a horse a zebra or I called a balloon a ball, if I called red blue, I could tell over time that he knew I was making a joke," Joe said.

Mark learned sign language, how to speak and aged out of school. He attended community college where he learned medical coding and had a job until the family returned south about 18 months ago.

Mark uses an IBM Selectric typewriter and makes almost no errors in his praise of his favorite teddy bear, Hannah, who can be everything from an astronaut to a pianist.

"Hannah is a good teddy bear and she's always beautiful," Mark said.

Community support

The opening of Mark's Park is still a year to 18 months away, but Joe said he is encouraged by the enthusiasm and support for the project.

The park received unanimous approval from the Collierville Planning Commission and the Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen on a conditional use permit.

"It's a great project," Mayor Stan Joyner said. "I can't wait to see it."

Homeowners in the cul-de-sac were concerned about traffic, but those fears have been allayed, said neighbor LaSimba Gray, pastor emeritus of New Sardis Baptist Church.

"It's just a matter of being sensitive to what's happening with the children and what's good for the neighborhood," Gray said.

There are several children in his congregation with autism.

"My heart goes out to parents who have autistic children," he said. "They have a tremendous challenge and yet it is an opportunity."

The park is set up as a nonprofit organization.

"The intention is to get donations once it's developed and active," Joe said. "I don't feel comfortable asking for donations until it's up and functioning."

But he has accepted some pro bono help, including assistance from the Dalhoff Thomas Design Studio, which provided design work for the park.

"We are helping them do the site planning in compliance with the special use permit from the town of Collierville as well as some of the aesthetic values around their house," said Dean Thomas, a landscape architect and principal with the firm.

Gayle is quick to say this project is mostly Joe's.

Joe said he worked hard and planned for his retirement, Mark's care far into the future and even how the park will evolve when he's too old to handle the work.

He doesn't expect a lot in return.

"All we are looking for is to be paid with smiles and laughs and learning," Joe said.