More City investments in the amenities at Fountain City Park are coming soon. Beginning the week of Feb. 7, look for new sections of sidewalk to be installed, starting on the Fountain Road and Broadway sides of Fountain City Lake.

Over about six weeks, crews with Design and Construction Services Inc. will be making more than $100,000 worth of sidewalk upgrades lakeside and throughout the park. Fountain City Park will not be closed during the construction, but no access will be allowed in the work zones.

The work will replace broken or uneven sections of sidewalk, to make the park more accessible, in adherence with the spirit of Americans with Disabilities Act federal guidelines.

Two winter fishing events were held in mid-December and late January at Fountain City Lake, but a third event that had been scheduled for Feb. 11 has been postponed due to the sidewalk replacement work. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is hoping to reschedule the event. TWRA stocks trout in urban lakes across the state, and for the past four winters, TWRA’s winter fishing has included Fountain City Lake. 

Once the work on the new sections of walkways around sections of Fountain City Lake are completed, DCSI crews will turn their attention to the park proper. Work to be done will include constructing accessible ramps, installing an accessible path to the restrooms and shelter, and adding more wheelchair-accessible concrete bench pads.

The City also is replacing the play structure at Fountain City Park and at two other City parks – a combined $530,898 investment. The old play structure in Fountain City Park has been removed and will mostly be replaced, but the unique (and beloved) swings are being painted, repaired and preserved. The upgraded playground – with the preserved original swings – is expected to reopen in early April.