SOUTH CITY SECTOR PLAN: The Development Plan

GOAL: Link parks, schools, libraries, neighborhoods and major development through an integrated greenway and sidewalk system.

Objective 1: Meet the close-to-home park acreage recommended by the National Recreation & Park Association standards.

Proposals:

• Add new close-to-home parks to serve residential areas that are not within the current park service area.
• Improve Sam Duff Memorial Park in conjunction with the proposed community center adjacent to the park.

Objective 2: Improve Fort Dickerson Park to serve area residents and users of south Knoxville.

Proposals:

• Realign Fort Dickerson Road with Woodlawn Pike to improve access and create a new entrance to the park.
• Acquire land on the south side of the park for new trails and greenways.
• Add picnic areas, pavilions, and restroom facilities to the park.
• Add a second entrance from Blount Avenue to provide access for neighborhoods in the Blount Avenue and Vestal areas.
• Connect the two entrances and the quarry lake through a greenway and trail system.

Objectives:

• Create a greenway network to link most existing and future parks in south Knoxville. •
  Link the greenway system in south Knoxville to the greenway in downtown Knoxville.

Proposed Greenways:

• Henley Street Bridge (Propose to TDOT to convert one side of future sidewalk to greenway for the Henley Street Bridge widening project).
• Baptist Hospital boardwalk (outside the retaining wall).
• Council Place (close street for a greenway).
• Old Sevier neighborhood waterfront at the proposed medium density residential area.
• Hillwood Drive connecting Island Home Pike.
• Fort Dickerson Park (connecting the entrances and the quarry lake).
• Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Right-of-Way.
• Future "Rails-to-Trails" alternative to convert the Northfolk Southern railroad between the Tennessee Asphalt Company and the Old Sevier neighborhood area as a greenway.
• James White Parkway from north side connection of Morningside Greenway to Hillwood Drive.

Objectives:

• Extend pedestrian facilities linking schools, neighborhoods, community facilities, major office and commercial development.
• Provide sidewalks within the parental responsibility zones to all public schools.
• Link existing and proposed greenways with sidewalks.

Proposals: See map: Parks, Greenways and Sidewalks

Objective 1: Recognize that south Knoxville has many characteristics of a complete community and apply the Community Development Concept to enhance and improve the area.

Proposals:

• Identify the segment of Chapman Highway between Taliwa Court and N. Fronda Lane as the core area of the south Knoxville Community. Develop the core as a walkable corridor to provide community and neighborhood services for south Knoxville residents.
• Improve sidewalks with buffer strips and tree plantings within the core area of Chapman Highway.
• Develop a community center at the intersection of Chapman Highway and Moody Avenue to serve residents in surrounding neighborhoods and suburban neighborhoods such as Lake Forest and Colonial Village.
• The proposed center may include development such as civic facilities, a library, neighborhood shops and offices.
• Improve sidewalks with enhanced landscaping such as planting vegetation and trees between sidewalks and roadways. Improve landscaping and facilities of Sam Duff Memorial Park, when the adjacent proposed community center is developed. This park will serve as a major community park to the surrounding area.

Objective 2: Conserve neighborhoods such as Old Sevier, Southside and Vestal that were created with traditional neighborhood characteristics (pre-1940 neighborhoods).

Proposals:

• Old Sevier Neighborhood - see the Old Sevier Neighborhood Waterfront proposals
• Southside Neighborhood - see the Blount Avenue Waterfront proposals
• Vestal Neighborhood
  • Create a neighborhood center at the ‘downtown Vestal’ area (Ogle Avenue/Martin Mill Pike) which may include uses such as civic, office, neighborhood retail and recreational facilities for residents of the Vestal neighborhood and surrounding areas.
  • Add sidewalks with buffer strips and tree plantings at Ogle Avenue and Martin Mill Pike between Moody Avenue and Young High Pike.
  • Add a neighborhood park to the Vestal area.