Today's Front Page |
eJCPress |
Facebook |
Twitter |
Coupons |
The area on Antioch Road near Willow Springs Park under consideration for a sidewalk trail.
(Lee Talbert / Johnson City Press)
These trails are made for walking
By Brad HicksPress Staff Writer
bhicks@johnsoncitypress.comThe Johnson City Commission has given its approval to take the first steps on two separate projects that would eventually see walking trails installed in and around the neighborhoods near two city schools.
Printer-friendly version
Email Article“We decided a long time ago that the policy should be to start at school and parks and kind of branch out,” City Manager Pete Peterson said to the commission. “These projects that are before you tonight will really add significantly to the linear feet of sidewalk to make things more accessible.”
First up was the Liberty Bell Area Sidewalk Project, which includes work on Knob Creek Road, Pactolas Road and Morningside Drive. The commission’s approval of the resolution on the project allows city staff to proceed with acquisition of the property necessary to complete the project by establishing fair market value of the properties.
A section of sidewalk was previously installed in the middle section of Knob Creek, and the discussed project involves installing sidewalk along two sections of Knob Creek to tie in with Johnson Avenue and up to Pactolas Road near Ashley Academy, Johnson City Assistant Public Works Director Mike Arsenault. Work would also include sections of sidewalk to be placed along Pactolas Road and Morningside Drive.
Funding for the Liberty Bell Sidewalk Project has already been included in the 2009-10 fiscal year budget.
Although not part of the Liberty Bell Sidewalk Project, Arsenault said the city has also been approached by residents on Peachtree Street who have requested the extension of the sidewalk along that road. Aresenault said those residents have been asked to work together to see if there is a majority who want the sidewalk extension. If so, they have been asked to notify the city if they would be willing to donate certain rights of way for the extension.
If this is completed and tied in with the Liberty Bell Sidewalk Project, Arsenault said a not-yet-designed sidewalk project around North Gilmer Park down to John Exum Parkway would allow students in the area sidewalk access to both the Liberty Bell school and Science Hill High School.
The commission’s approval allows the city to begin negotiations with affected property owners along Knob Creek and Pactolas roads and Morningside Drive.
In another project, the commission also approved a resolution to set fair market value for properties along Antioch Road for the installation of a multi-purpose trail along the side of the road closer to Willow Springs Park.
A separate project, the Safe Routes to School project being funded through a federal grant would see sidewalk installed from Cherokee Road to Eastwood Drive along Lone Oak Road, and Arsenault said there is currently ongoing design for sidewalk along a section of Lone Oak Road that would go from Eastwood Drive to Greenwood Drive.
“Eventually there will be a trail that would go from Cherokee Road down to Lone Oak and tie to this trail that’s proposed for Antioch,” he said. “So that’s still some time off in the future.”
Officials feel these projects will offer people in nearby neighborhoods better foot-powered access to the park and Cherokee Elementary School.
“What we’re really trying to do is to continue with our policy of putting sidewalks in and around the schools and parks so that people that live in the general area have the opportunity to get there other than by driving their vehicle,” Peterson said.
City budgeting for the sidewalk projects along with Safe Routes to School funding will allow the city to begin putting in some of the trails, although the plan as a whole will likely be done in phases over the course of several years, Peterson said.