New Open Green Space Coming to S. Central St.

Communications Director

Kristin Farley
[email protected]
(865) 215-2589

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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New Open Green Space Coming to S. Central St.

Posted: 03/03/2017
Fencing at Central St.The rusted chain-link fence, topped with barbed wire, will be coming down soon. Later this month, look for a new linear green space, between James White Parkway and South Central Street, to be opened up.

Blountville, Tenn.-based South East Mowing will be removing the bedraggled old fence, dating back at least 30 years, that runs parallel to Central Street, next to the sidewalk. (Please see attached photos of the existing chain-link fence.)

The contractor will then install 1,900 linear feet of new 6-foot-tall black vinyl fencing. However, the new fence – minus any barbed wire – will be installed away from Central and closer to James White Parkway, creating a publicly-accessible open space that’s more than 100 feet wide in spots.

South East Mowing, which mowed 29,000 miles of grass and installed fencing in four states last year, was the lowest bidder for the City’s fence replacement project. The Central Street work will cost $26,890.

This week, new guardrails have been installed along James White Parkway – the first step in opening up the green space off Central Street.

“I hear from people all the time who look longingly at the shaded areas on the other side of a rickety rusted fence,” said Rick Emmett, the City’s Downtown Coordinator. “They’re puzzled why the pretty pines, grassy areas and magnolias aren’t accessible for public use.

“We agree with them. In a matter of weeks, this green space will be accessible to Central Street pedestrians, between the PetSafe Downtown Dog Park and the Romanian Church near Cumberland Avenue.”

Going forward, Emmett said, the City will continue to consider suggestions from downtown residents and visitors about adding future amenities, such as benches or picnic tables, or possibly enlarging the downtown dog park.