Page 12 - July/Aug 2015 Vol. 33 No. 2
P. 12
alcoa By Steve Drummer, PE
Preserving a Community Landmark
While Improving Water Quality
The “Duck Pond” in Alcoa, Tennessee Above and inset right: The Alcoa “Duck Pond” in its current state.
is getting a face lift. The eight-acre water Above: rendering of a section of the new plaza increasing accessibility to the shoreline of the pond. Below:
feature is located in the center of the rendering of the amphitheater on the north side of the pond. Both renderings are by Red Chair Architects.
City of Alcoa in close proximity to three
public schools, a little league ball park, way/trail system, overall site aesthetics, to visitors, concentrating them in a small
a swimming pool, and a city park. The and water quality of the pond. The City area near the parking lot.
area around the pond serves as the venue knew they needed additional engineer-
for several popular City events including ing resources, and LDA Engineering was Erosion due to foot traffic will be
Freedom Fest, an Independence Day cel- selected to plan the needed improvements resolved by creating access to the en-
ebration, and the Duck Pond Fishing Der- and also provide engineering support for tire shoreline with the extension of the
by usually held in early June. The pond the ALCOA centennial project. greenway trail and the construction of a
receives a steady flow of daily visitors boardwalk. This effort will disperse park
looking for a spot to spend a few minutes LDA determined that the erosion and users over a wider area, alleviating the
walking, reading, or just relaxing. Its loca- poor bank conditions were caused by two problem with overly concentrated foot
tion near a branch of the Maryville-Alcoa primary factors, wave/rippling action traffic. Additional improvements to the
Greenway Trail also increases pedestrian on the shoreline and pedestrian traffic Greenway will allow direct access from Al-
traffic to the area. concentrated in several areas near the coa Elementary School via an ADA acces-
shoreline. Currently, about 70 percent of sible path. The boardwalk and greenway
In June 2013, the centennial anniversary the pond’s shoreline is not easily accessible trail will be further enhanced with several
celebration of the Aluminum Company
of America (ALCOA) kicked off. As a part
of the celebration, ALCOA is coordinat-
ing and helping to fund improvements
to the north end of the Duck Pond. The
improvements will be anchored by a
12,000-square-foot plaza that will include
a formal plaza with sitting areas, a splash
fountain for kids to cool off, an amphi-
theater, a playground, and a historical
element that will showcase the 100 years
of history behind ALCOA and the City
of Alcoa which will celebrate its own
centennial in 2019. The final look is still
under development, but the plaza area
will incorporate various elements that will
commemorate important events and dates
in the company’s and city’s history. The
amphitheater along on the north side will
be positioned into a natural hillside. This
feature will allow for outdoor perfor-
mances and a great outdoor classroom
for Alcoa Elementary, Middle, and High
Schools.
With the ALCOA centennial project
improving one side of the pond, the
Alcoa Public Works Department real-
ized the remainder of the Duck Pond also
needed some updating. Closer examina-
tion revealed four primary concerns:
bank stabilization around the shoreline
of the pond, lack of connectivity to the
Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County green-
12 TPW July/August 2015
Preserving a Community Landmark
While Improving Water Quality
The “Duck Pond” in Alcoa, Tennessee Above and inset right: The Alcoa “Duck Pond” in its current state.
is getting a face lift. The eight-acre water Above: rendering of a section of the new plaza increasing accessibility to the shoreline of the pond. Below:
feature is located in the center of the rendering of the amphitheater on the north side of the pond. Both renderings are by Red Chair Architects.
City of Alcoa in close proximity to three
public schools, a little league ball park, way/trail system, overall site aesthetics, to visitors, concentrating them in a small
a swimming pool, and a city park. The and water quality of the pond. The City area near the parking lot.
area around the pond serves as the venue knew they needed additional engineer-
for several popular City events including ing resources, and LDA Engineering was Erosion due to foot traffic will be
Freedom Fest, an Independence Day cel- selected to plan the needed improvements resolved by creating access to the en-
ebration, and the Duck Pond Fishing Der- and also provide engineering support for tire shoreline with the extension of the
by usually held in early June. The pond the ALCOA centennial project. greenway trail and the construction of a
receives a steady flow of daily visitors boardwalk. This effort will disperse park
looking for a spot to spend a few minutes LDA determined that the erosion and users over a wider area, alleviating the
walking, reading, or just relaxing. Its loca- poor bank conditions were caused by two problem with overly concentrated foot
tion near a branch of the Maryville-Alcoa primary factors, wave/rippling action traffic. Additional improvements to the
Greenway Trail also increases pedestrian on the shoreline and pedestrian traffic Greenway will allow direct access from Al-
traffic to the area. concentrated in several areas near the coa Elementary School via an ADA acces-
shoreline. Currently, about 70 percent of sible path. The boardwalk and greenway
In June 2013, the centennial anniversary the pond’s shoreline is not easily accessible trail will be further enhanced with several
celebration of the Aluminum Company
of America (ALCOA) kicked off. As a part
of the celebration, ALCOA is coordinat-
ing and helping to fund improvements
to the north end of the Duck Pond. The
improvements will be anchored by a
12,000-square-foot plaza that will include
a formal plaza with sitting areas, a splash
fountain for kids to cool off, an amphi-
theater, a playground, and a historical
element that will showcase the 100 years
of history behind ALCOA and the City
of Alcoa which will celebrate its own
centennial in 2019. The final look is still
under development, but the plaza area
will incorporate various elements that will
commemorate important events and dates
in the company’s and city’s history. The
amphitheater along on the north side will
be positioned into a natural hillside. This
feature will allow for outdoor perfor-
mances and a great outdoor classroom
for Alcoa Elementary, Middle, and High
Schools.
With the ALCOA centennial project
improving one side of the pond, the
Alcoa Public Works Department real-
ized the remainder of the Duck Pond also
needed some updating. Closer examina-
tion revealed four primary concerns:
bank stabilization around the shoreline
of the pond, lack of connectivity to the
Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County green-
12 TPW July/August 2015
