Greenway Board Hears Update on Phase III

 

As part of their regular monthly meeting on April 19, the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway Board heard updates on several aspects of the Greenway, including a progress report on Phase III, scheduled to begin construction soon.

 

Teresa Torbett, project coordinator for Phase III of the Greenway, updated the board on Phase III which will extend the Greenway from 20th to Willow Street. The extension will incorporate passages under the 20th and 17th Street bridges and a bridge over Mouse Creek between 17th and Willow. Torbett explained an environmental clearance has been received, permits with TDEC, TVA, the Army Corps and TDOT have been extended and are in place, and all plans and specifications were submitted for approval in Nashville last month.  In addition, right-of-ways and temporary construction easements required for the project have been submitted and certified.

 

“We are waiting of the formal certification before we can advertise for bids,” Torbett said. “Once we receive this certification, TDOT will issue a notice to allow the City to advertise for bids on the project.” No timetable was given on completion of the process, but the consensus was that construction could begin in early June.

 

“We are grateful for the $596,000 grant we received for this project,” stated Cameron Fisher, chairman of the Greenway Board. “We need to be sure all the requirements are satisfied, so there will be no interruptions once ground is broken.”

 

In other Greenway Board business:

 

  • A group of Lee University students made a formal presentation of their semester-long project spotlighting the greenway. The group showcased their research and made suggestions based on their findings through a survey taken from greenway patrons. The group presented a sample brochure, newsletter and fund raising ideas;
  • Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland, a member of the Greenway board, reported on the latest progress of a proposed Veterans Memorial Park near the intersection of Julian Drive and 25th Street. Developers of the SpringCreek project are investigating the possibility of a greenway between the development and 20th Street, near Lee University and the new Mayfield School;
  • Chairman Fisher reported a commitment has been received from a donor to fund the placement of mileage and information markers. Plans call for the ground-level markers will be placed every ¼ mile along the greenway;
  • City Engineer Brian Beck reported that bids will be going out in July for the portion of the greenway to go under Paul Huff Parkway and proceed south toward the new Mouse Creek bridge underpass. A grant has been received for a portion of this section with the remainder to be completed by the City of Cleveland;
  • Fisher told the board that two organizations have expressed interest in becoming members of the Greenway Network. The Network was inaugurated in March and identifies independent walking trails in the county which are open for public use.
  • In an earlier meeting this year, the Southeastern Palm Association asked if a portion of land along the greenway could be used to showcase palms not native to this area, but which can thrive in Tennessee climate. A planting area on Raider Drive was approved by the board and will be maintained by the association when the palms are planted.

 

On April 20, six members of the Greenway Board took a “field trip” to investigate the possibilities of extending the greenway northward beyond Mohawk Drive.

 

“Ever since the greenway was first conceptualized for our community, there has been talk of taking it from the Village Green shopping center to the Hiwassee River,” Fisher stated. “While taking it all the way to the Hiwassee can be done, a more immediate goal is to connect the greenway with as many neighborhoods as possible allowing for safe walking routes to schools and as many places for recreational walkers to hop on. Implementing this extension would allow hundreds more families to exercise this option.”

 

The May meeting of the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway board will be held Thursday, May 17 at noon at the Church of God Leadership and Communications Center.