Mayor Bill Haslam hosted a news conference today at Fort Dickerson Park to highlight a $30,000 grant from Rohm & Haas to the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable that will be used to improve the historic site.

 "Knoxville is fortunate to have corporate citizens like Rohm & Haas Co. that are committed to improving the community in which they do business, and volunteers like those from the Civil War Roundtable that work to preserve our city's history," Mayor Haslam said. The grant is part of Rohm & Haas' Knoxville Community Partnership Initiative. The Knoxville Civil War Roundtable applied for the competitive grant with assistance from the East Tennessee Community Design Center. "As Rohm and Haas we believe it's important to improve the quality of life in the communities where we operate and where our employees live through contributions to projects that serve to educate and preserve our history," said Paul Fortunato of the company's Knoxville facility. "I am pleased to present this contribution to the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable, a volunteer group that works to bring Knoxville's history to life."

L to R: Mayor Bill Haslam, Tom Moore of Rohm Haas, Councilman Joe Hultquist, Dorothy Kelly of the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable, and Councilwoman Marilyn RoddyDorothy Kelly, preservation and program director for the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable, stated, "We have been proud through the years to support Fort Dickerson through cleanups, the installation of educational materials and through special activities that highlight Knoxville's role during the Civil War. This grant will be used to make additional improvements at the park that will enhance the visitor experience to this historic site." Fort Dickerson was one of 16 earthen forts and battery positions built by the Federal army around Knoxville during the Civil War. The new funds will be used to rebuild a retaining wall and steps leading into the site, allowing for better access to interpretive signs and three replicas of ordnance rifles the Civil War Roundtable has installed on the site. In addition, the tree canopy will be thinned and undergrowth removed to restore the view from the fort to downtown Knoxville.Fort Dickerson is located off Chapman Highway, less than a mile south of the Henley Street Bridge. The 85-acre park also contains two shelters and picnic tables.