Mayor Bill Haslam invites Knoxville citizens to participate in the first public workshop on Thursday to begin creation of the South Waterfront Vision and Action Plan.

The workshop will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Kerbela Shriners Temple, located at 315 Mimosa Ave., near Baptist Hospital."I encourage everyone interested in developing this framework for future development and investment in the South Waterfront to participate in this process," said Mayor Haslam. "The South Waterfront is a great community asset, and it's important the community be involved in determining how to best develop this special place to its full potential."The Mayor also announced the launch of a new interactive web site - www.knoxvillesouthwaterfront.com - that will contain continuous updates on the project, a schedule of public meetings, maps and other graphics, and ways that citizens can offer their comments.The City's consultants on the South Waterfront, a team lead by Hargreaves Associates, will lead Thursday's and other public workshops, which will focus on setting goals for the project, exploring alternatives, generating options and eventually creating the vision plan and actions necessary to accomplish the plan.The South Waterfront Vision and Action Plan will address such issues as land uses and zoning; urban design guidelines; transportation; public access to the waterfront; and archeological surveys.

Two more Public Workshops are scheduled for Thursday, Dec 15th and Thursday, Jan 26th at 6:00 PM at the Kerbela Shriners Temple, 315 Mimosa Ave. (behind Baptist Hospital).