South Knox Greenways Growing

The city of Knoxville's new budget includes $250,000 to build and improve greenways and parks in South Knoxville to help establish the area as a destination for lovers of the outdoors.

One project will result in the building of a new 15-mile greenway loop that would link such recreational sites as Ijams Nature Center and the William Hastie Natural Area.

The second project includes the building of a new trail to the Fort Dickerson quarry, as well as a new boat ramp and dock access to the quarry lake.

The two projects are designed to boost South Knoxville's appeal to bikers, hikers and boaters, said Joe Walsh, Knoxville parks and recreation director.

"It's trying to put South Knoxville on the map as being an outdoor destination for people to come and exercise and experience the great outdoors," Walsh said. "It's a way to bring people from out of town and to bring people locally to get out and safely experience these natural wonders."

The city will spend $50,000 on the new greenway and another $200,000 on the Fort Dickerson Park improvements.

"I couldn't be more excited," said Councilman Nick Pavlis, whose district includes South Knoxville. "My goal is to continue to push the brand of urban wilderness for South Knoxville. If you look around, South Knoxville, it's beautiful. We've got hills and mountains and everything that works to our advantage. Fort Dickerson is like Central Park, and it's less than a mile from downtown."

The new greenway will include trails built by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, and a $150,000 donation from Legacy Parks, which raises private funding for parks and natural areas.

Walsh said work can commence on the new greenway as soon as all commitments are in from affected property owners - probably by the new fiscal year starting July 1.

"We really have to continue the urban wilderness concept," said Carol Evans, director of Legacy Parks. "This year, we're concentrating on creating a (greenway) loop that will connect Ijams Nature Center with William Hastie Natural Area, Marie Myers Park and the Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area.

"We're working on property acquisition and on private property trail easements," Evans said. "All the pieces should be in place after July. After that, trail construction can begin. We have to raise about $150,000 to get the acquisitions."

Evans agrees that the new construction will help "showcase" South Knoxville.

"It really begins to identify South Knoxville as an outdoor recreation area," she said.

Of Fort Dickerson Park, she said: "It's a diamond in the rough to be able to access that, and that's a real investment. We're going to make this park our crown jewel and get access to the lake."

Brian Hann, president of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, said volunteers from his club have almost completed building a 4-foot-wide dirt trail through Fort Dickerson Park from the overlook to the entrance to the lake.

His group also will build trails on the new greenway loop.

"This is going to be a natural surface trail," Hann said. "It will accommodate hikers and cyclists, like a hiking trail in the Smokies. Knoxville is comprised of a whole lot of land that works well for parks (and) not so well for development because of the steep rock terrain. It's part of our mission to provide more riding opportunities. It's a lot of hard work, but we enjoy it. It's all volunteer labor."

Posted Wednesday, 07/06/11, 03:05 PM - Category: Neighborhoods