Greenway Gets New Funding, Opens Phase III in 2008

It was another year of significant progress for the Cleveland Bradley County Greenway as Phase III was completed and dedicated during 2008. In addition, funding was secured for two more phases which will extend the pedestrian path even further.

Construction on Phase III began in late 2007 following a groundbreaking ceremony the previous August. Portions of the approximately 1/2 mile span were completed between September 2007 and April 2008 with a formal dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place on May 15, 2008. Attending the ceremony at a small park furnished by the Cleveland Rotary Club were students who walked to the site from Arnold School, local officials and Greenway board members. Phase III connected with the greenway at 20^th Street, under the 20^th Street bridge, south under the 17^th Street bridge to a termination point at Willow Street. A large pedestrian bridge crossing Mouse Creek is a significant aspect of Phase III.

A second milestone in 2008 occurred when word was received that the State of Tennessee had awarded a $569,000 Enhancement Grant toward Phase V, or the portion which would connect at Raider Drive and proceed north to the current Tinsley Park trail. The TDOT grant was formally accepted from Governor Bredesen at the capitol by a Greenway Board delegation in October. Construction on Phase V is expected to begin this spring and when completed will extend the greenway north to Tinsley Park.

Shortly after the announcement of the enhancement grant, local officials held a groundbreaking for Phase IV on August 27. Work had already begun on a portion of the greenway which would extend it southward under Paul Huff Parkway connecting it with an already completed ¼ mile portion between Paul Huff and Mohawk Drive. Funding for “Part A” of Phase IV came from a $50,000 TDEC grant secured in 2007. Part A was completed late last fall.

Shortly thereafter it was announced that the greenway had received a $123,000 grant from the Healthy Community Initiative, the portion of the Bradley Memorial Hospital endowment managed by a committee appointed by the County Commission. HCI awarded funds to the greenway to be extended further southward from Phase IV Part A to the new bridge at the intersection of Mouse Creek ad Mimosa Drive. The project is expected to begin this spring and when completed will complete the greenway from Mohawk to Mouse Creek.

“When Phase IV and V are completed this year, we will have a greenway which will extend for almost four miles from Willow to Mohawk,” stated Cameron Fisher, chairman of the Greenway Board. “While our current funding virtually completes the greenway for that distance we still lack funding for a bridge to get us across Mouse Creek at Tinsley Park. Until we get that funding, the greenway will essentially be in two parts.” Fisher noted that engineering is underway to determine the approximate cost and location for placement of the pedestrian bridge, which will be behind Southeastern Stair on Mimosa and behind the Tinsley Park softball fields.

The current length of the Greenway is 1.88 miles from Raider Drive to Willow Street.

Greenway patrons who desire to accurately measure their distance traveled can now do so by noting ground-level distance markers at 1/4-mile increments. The markers, which were placed in 2008, were made possible with a donation from Wellness Steps

“People enter the Greenway from many different locations," Fisher pointed out. "Because of this and the fact the final Greenway starting and stopping points are not in place, the distance markers begin as you enter Willow Street with the first marker just south of the 17^th Street bridge. When people pass the marker they note it and simply count them to measure their distance." The markers are easily spotted with a colorful logo and "1/4 MILE" etched into each of the large stones.

Other donations in 2008 included several new benches placed along the Greenway by city Parks and Recreation staff. Inscriptions honoring friends or family members are etched on the side of the benches at the option of the donor.

Two of the benches were placed as park of a mini-park funded by People for Care and Learning, a local benevolent agency. The benches, sidewalk and plaque are located between 20th and 25^th Street.

Members of the Greenway Board include a mixture of city and county leaders and private citizens. There are appointments from the Bradley County Commission, Cleveland City Council and the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the Greenway Board include: County Engineer Brian Beck, Matthew Brown, Scot Carter, City Manager Janice Casteel, Judy Chandler, County Mayor Gary Davis, City Councilman Bill Estes (vice-chairman), Cameron Fisher (chairman), Kim Duncan (secretary), Amy Moore (treasurer), City Parks and Recreation Director Patti Petitt, Will Reynolds, Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland and County Commissioner Connie Wilson. Also regularly contributing on the board are Melinda Carroll, Teresa Torbett, Tom Grant and Jason Kitterman. Cameron Fisher was re-elected in September to serve another two year term as chairman.

To learn more about the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway, to inquire about buying a bench or other donations, visit the Web site at www.cbcGreenway.com or call 728-7105.