Page 11 - TN Public Works March-April 2014 Vol. 31 No. 7
P. 11
The Lady of the fountain is an
icon for the city of Johnson City.
A recent dedication ceremony
celebrated her return to
downtown and fountain Square.
was awarded not only as a result of recy- to the new Farmers Market supporting
cling efforts or because of their beautiful local farmers and vendors. Tupelo Honey
northeast Tennessee scenery, but because restaurant, which is scheduled to open
the city has numerous projects in which nearby in August, has donated art that will
they have prioritized natural resources to be placed at the east end of the park.
build a more sustainable community. The city has already constructed
Along with successfully coordinating sidewalks for the greenway plan, a zone
waste management, Johnson City has of property to connect the downtown
also been overcoming challenges with with the campus of East Tennessee State
stormwater, primarily in the downtown University. This greenway plan would
region during heavy rainfall events. Most include patches of pollinator plants, pub-
recently, as part of a $30 million long- lic art and functional art such as planters
term flood mitigation plan, Brush and and benches. The connection results in
King Creeks were uncovered. The creeks easy access for students and faculty to
had been under buildings for over 70 downtown restaurants, shops, the farmers The article in the Tennessee Public Works
years. Two new wetland areas are now market and other venues. The plan will Magazine’s Nov/Dec 1998 issue was a survey of
being created including a 27-acre site at promote walking and biking as viable recycling in Tennessee cities and counties by
the Sinking Creek Wetlands Restoration options. Opportunities for community frank Kirk and Armintha Loveday. They reported,
Area. These will help improve water qual- events include art workshops, native plant “According to Brenda Whisnant, Johnson City
ity while promoting flood prevention. classes and even the use of Brush Creek as Recycling Coordinator, the city has offered weekly
founders Park an outdoor classroom. curbside collection since 1989, and they have
68% participation. They operate three routes with
A “Rails to Trails” project is also in
The big attraction for downtown is the plans with projected completion this two men per route. They accept ten items which
Founders Park, which features ample green summer. Known as the Tweetsie Trail, can be co-mingled, then the city sorts them at the
space, sidewalks surrounding the park, an it will be a pedestrian path stretching 10 curb. One city route collects office paper weekly
amphitheater, and a bridge over the recent- miles connecting Johnson City, Elizabeth- from 315 customers. Two drop-off locations
are also collected by the city. In addition, 206
ly uncovered Brush Creek, and cascading ton and Carter County. The initial phase volunteer commercial cardboard customers are
waterfalls. The five-acre park will connect Continued on page 12 collected weekly by a city front-end loader.”
TPW March/April 2014 11
icon for the city of Johnson City.
A recent dedication ceremony
celebrated her return to
downtown and fountain Square.
was awarded not only as a result of recy- to the new Farmers Market supporting
cling efforts or because of their beautiful local farmers and vendors. Tupelo Honey
northeast Tennessee scenery, but because restaurant, which is scheduled to open
the city has numerous projects in which nearby in August, has donated art that will
they have prioritized natural resources to be placed at the east end of the park.
build a more sustainable community. The city has already constructed
Along with successfully coordinating sidewalks for the greenway plan, a zone
waste management, Johnson City has of property to connect the downtown
also been overcoming challenges with with the campus of East Tennessee State
stormwater, primarily in the downtown University. This greenway plan would
region during heavy rainfall events. Most include patches of pollinator plants, pub-
recently, as part of a $30 million long- lic art and functional art such as planters
term flood mitigation plan, Brush and and benches. The connection results in
King Creeks were uncovered. The creeks easy access for students and faculty to
had been under buildings for over 70 downtown restaurants, shops, the farmers The article in the Tennessee Public Works
years. Two new wetland areas are now market and other venues. The plan will Magazine’s Nov/Dec 1998 issue was a survey of
being created including a 27-acre site at promote walking and biking as viable recycling in Tennessee cities and counties by
the Sinking Creek Wetlands Restoration options. Opportunities for community frank Kirk and Armintha Loveday. They reported,
Area. These will help improve water qual- events include art workshops, native plant “According to Brenda Whisnant, Johnson City
ity while promoting flood prevention. classes and even the use of Brush Creek as Recycling Coordinator, the city has offered weekly
founders Park an outdoor classroom. curbside collection since 1989, and they have
68% participation. They operate three routes with
A “Rails to Trails” project is also in
The big attraction for downtown is the plans with projected completion this two men per route. They accept ten items which
Founders Park, which features ample green summer. Known as the Tweetsie Trail, can be co-mingled, then the city sorts them at the
space, sidewalks surrounding the park, an it will be a pedestrian path stretching 10 curb. One city route collects office paper weekly
amphitheater, and a bridge over the recent- miles connecting Johnson City, Elizabeth- from 315 customers. Two drop-off locations
are also collected by the city. In addition, 206
ly uncovered Brush Creek, and cascading ton and Carter County. The initial phase volunteer commercial cardboard customers are
waterfalls. The five-acre park will connect Continued on page 12 collected weekly by a city front-end loader.”
TPW March/April 2014 11
