Blog: City Blog

New Trail: Great Access to Urban Wilderness Gateway Park Public Meeting/Block Party

The southern terminus of James White Parkway will soon get a $10 million upgrade as it’s transformed into the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park.

In fact, the space has already been experiencing enhancement as the City’s Public Service crews prepare for a public meeting and block party for the new park held this Saturday, June 2, from 2-4 p.m.

Crews from Service Area 2 and Horticulture Zone C have been clearing brush, mowing the area, and collecting litter for Saturday’s event.

Not only is the space being spruced up, but the City’s Greenways Service crew built a new trail connector that links the space to Baker Creek Forest off of Lancaster Drive.

Though a very brief hike—only about 0.25 mile—the trail connector offers a glimpse at what is truly an instant gateway into the wilderness, with birds flying about, deer paths evident in the high grasses, and hundreds of canopying trees overhead.

The City’s Greenways Service Crew began in December 2016, and have built around two miles of new trails throughout the City since then.

This particular trail connector leads southeast and opens up into the Baker Creek Forest, which is a nice park space with adventurous kids’ play equipment sprinkled along a trail at the border of South-Doyle Middle School.

For this weekend’s public meeting, the trail connector will be a great way to actually get to the event. Parking is available at the middle school.

Or, let Knoxville Area Transit get you there. Riders can take KAT Route 40 South Knoxville and get off at the bus stop across from the SoKno Taco restaurant at the Sevierville Pike/Sevier Avenue intersection. Then, head south on Lancaster Drive. After a brief walk/bike the trailhead for the Baker Creek Forest will be on the right. (Don’t forget that bikes ride free on KAT buses!) After passing the log cabin play equipment in the Baker Creek Forest, cross Decatur Drive and follow the gravel trail at the northwestern end of the park. The trail will cross Eakers Street and pick up as a dirt path. Follow that to the southern terminus of James White Parkway.

If you can't walk to the event, there will also be parking at the southern terminus of James White Parkway. Simply drive southbound on James White Parkway to the highway's end and there will be officers directing traffic to park.

For more information on Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness and the Urban Wilderness Gateway project, visit http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/uwgatewaypark.

Posted by On 01 June, 2018 at 1:47 PM