News
May 2021
Tuesday, May 11th, 2021
Funding for Phase 2 of Augusta Quarry included Mayor’s 2021-2022 Budget
The Shopper News ran an article on May 3 talking about improvements at the South Knoxville site at the center of the Battlefield Loop.
$1 million plan to enhance Augusta Quarry recreation
Ali James, Shopper News
It may not officially be swimming season, but a handful of Augusta Quarry visitors were making the most of the warmer temperatures recently.
When Sheryl Ely, Knoxville Parks and Recreation director, asked two of them how they enjoyed their swim, they laughed and admitted to lasting barely a minute in the icy, deep water. Others were not deterred as they floated in their inflatable rings before the thunderstorms rolled in.
“I was here the other day and I saw lots of out-of-state license plates in the parking lot, including a family from Florida, and someone had strung up a hammock between the trees,” said Ely.
$1 million for Urban Wilderness site
On April 27, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon proposed her 2021-22 budget, and there was one line item that was exciting news for Urban Wilderness enthusiasts. One million dollars has been allocated for phase two of the Augusta Quarry project .
Funding will be used for improving accessibility and safety to the quarry, as well as adding a vendor area and restrooms.
Ely and city Greenways Coordinator Tim Hester met the Shopper News in the parking lot, completed as part of phase one in the fall of 2019.
“People probably won’t see the beginning as it is the infrastructure — water and electricity improvements,” said Ely. “We will also be finding contractors, arranging purchasing and figuring out how we will finalize our plans.”
While Ely did not want to promise a firm start date for the project, she and Hester agreed that design work will really start later in the year.
Kayaks, boardwalk and swimming area
With mostly native landscaping and a formalized park entry and parking area established during phase one, most of the attention will now focus on the water’s edge in this next phase.https://53e3519dac4b58c6f3e3696e76e12369.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
PORT and Sanders Pace Architecture worked with the City of Knoxville and Aslan Foundation to design phase one, and Ely pointed out how the design for Phase 2 will fit into the natural surroundings.
“We will not have the dock, but a boardwalk for people wanting to get closer to the water,” she said.
A more defined swimming area will be addressed this summer, including buoys, boulders and clear, consistent signage. Since the limestone quarry closed 30-40 years ago, the city has taken steps to deter people from diving off the 100-foot-high rocks by adding signage and fencing. Ely and Hester hope a better defined swimming area will further promote safety.
Ely gestured to the space between the gravel road leading to the water and the craggy rocks that have been designated for a vendor.
“We want them to set up here where it’s easy access to the water for rental equipment,” she said. “We are looking at different kinds of vendors, similar to what Mead’s Quarry has.”
Hester said they are looking for a business to hire out kayaks and tubes, and not a food truck or T-shirt vendor, and they hope to have that vendor in place for the summer. That season will officially kick off on Memorial Day and run through Labor Day.
“Parks and recreation staff will be here regularly over the summer, as well as KPD officers to make sure everyone is being safe,” said Ely. “We still recommend people use personal protective devices for swimming — it is open water, like the Tennessee River, and we want them to remain mindful of that.”
“Over the years we have expanded the recreational opportunities for mountain bikers, hikers, and birdwatchers,” said Hester. “That activity and the upgrades — the new entrance and trail — tend to keep other (destructive) activity away.”
“The Aslan Foundation played a big part in partnering with us in phase one; they love this design for phase two,” added Ely.