With some fanfare, the City's new state-of-the-art Baker Creek Bike Park was dedicated in late August. But other important (albeit, less flashy) work on the $10 million Urban Wilderness Gateway Park project has steadily continued this past month and a half.

Much of the heavy lifting has been completed, in terms of building the framework infrastructure.

A base layer of asphalt has been laid down for the new park road and greenways; the surfaces should be paved before mid-November. 


A base layer of pavement defines the path of the new entrance park road.


Next up: The light poles along the greenways and roadway are being set.

Within the next couple of weeks, new accessible sidewalks at Sevierville Pike will be constructed. Adding topsoil, seeding and landscaping will continue.

There are many small details to tend to as well - things like installing pedestrian safety rails, or striping the roadway. 

One of the big core building blocks still to come is adding parking at the James White Parkway terminus with Sevierville Pike, as well as on-street parking next to individual amenities.

Once all the major infrastructure is in place, then the real fun can begin:

- The adventure playground at Baker Creek Preserve will be rebuilt

- Restrooms, shade structures and picnic areas will be constructed

- New play features and gathering spaces will be built out

 
Meanwhile, here are some additional photos of the continuing construction:



Looking south on Cottrell Street and the path of a new greenway

 

A new greenway at Sevierville Pike, looking west toward the new park road

 

Here is what the area at the south end of the Gateway Park currently looks like
 


The unfinished approach on James White Parkway to the future parking area and Sevierville Pike terminus