CLEVELAND, Tennessee – The city of Cleveland received $ 500,000 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Parks and Recreation Grant to develop a new park called Candies Creek Park along the winding creek to the west of the city.
“It’s very exciting news for Cleveland because we don’t have a playground in the northwest of the city,” said Patti Petitt, director of Cleveland Parks and Recreation, who drafted the grant application. “We have emphasized that we need a playground in every part of the city. That is a great asset for us.”
According to officials, the grant requires 50 percent city coverage.
The land for the park has not yet been acquired, but it will be somewhere on Candies Creek in the area of State Highway 60, Petitt said.
The grant and city funds cannot be used to purchase land on the former Rolling Hills golf course that borders parts of Candies Creek as it was previously developed for public recreation, she said. The The city bought about 30 hectares of the property in 2010 to use about 20 hectares to mitigate wetlands that were affected by the construction of the then new airport of the city in the municipality of Tasso.
However, Petitt said golf course land could be purchased for the park using municipal funds not associated with the grant. It could also be that the land for the park is being bought with grant money elsewhere along the creek and officials have spoken to some landowners, she said.
“We want about 10 acres,” she said.
The proposed plan for the park includes a 16,500-square-foot playground, a 32-by-100-foot pavilion with toilets, a 160-by-280-foot fish pond, a park entrance, and a parking lot, according to Petitt and a state press release on the grant. All facilities will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“We want people from Tennessee to enjoy recreational activities, and we understand that local executives need funding to make this possible. These grants help meet that need, ”said Jim Bryson, assistant environmental and conservation officer, in the press release.
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Cleveland receives $ 500,000 grant for new Candies Creek Park
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TDEC PROMOTIONS
The Local Park and Recreation Fund program provides state funding for the acquisition of land for parks, natural areas, green paths and recreational facilities, as well as for the development of hiking trails and investment projects in parks, natural areas and green paths.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund program grants state grants to administer state and local governments for the purchase and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities.
The Recreational Trails Program is a federally funded, state-administered grant program that provides funds for land purchase for hiking trails, trail maintenance, road construction, trail rehabilitation and support for trail heads.
Source: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
The grant is part of $ 7.6 million that communities across the state will receive from the State Department’s Local Parks and Recreation Fund program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund program, spokesman Kim Schofinski said in the press release.
Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks said improving the overall quality of life in Cleveland and Bradley Counties has had far-reaching positive effects, particularly in promoting the industry and other businesses that bring jobs to the community.
“These companies coming to Cleveland and Bradley Counties – Cannon Automotive, Wacker, Amazon, Volkswagen just a few miles away – are looking for communities and quality of life first, especially companies that come here from overseas,” said Brooks. “They really look at the quality of life first, then they look at the infrastructure, then they look at the schools, then they look at other things in our communities.”
Brooks praised Petitt’s work on the grant, saying the $ 500,000 in matching local funds were approved by city council members as part of the grant application.
The state legislators also cheered the grant funding.
“The park resulting from these funds will bring the community together and provide great value to both citizens and visitors and encourage outdoor activities,” said Senator Mike Bell, R-Riceville, in the press release.
Bell, 58, is from Cleveland. Senator Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, also represents parts of Bradley County and Cleveland.
“This grant is great news for Cleveland,” said Gardenhire. “Local parks are great places for our citizens to get exercise, improve their quality of life, relax, and enjoy the scenic beauty of Cleveland.”
In a joint statement included in the press release, Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland and Rep. Mark Hall, R-Cleveland said, “This grant will go a long way in adding value to our community and creating a space for all Cleveland residents can use and enjoy them. We appreciate the work of our state and local guides in securing these funds and look forward to visiting Candies Creek Park very soon. “
Contact Ben Benton at [email protected] or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton.
