On Tuesday, July 23, the City Council unanimously approved Mayor Indya Kincannon’s administration to move forward with a $4.6 million pavilion at Urban Wilderness Gateway Park.
The 23,000-square-foot pavilion will feature four bathrooms, shade structures, a water refilling station, picnic tables, and play areas with slides and climbing structures integrated into the natural landscape. The park is located at the southern end of James White Parkway, near Sevierville Pike, and is close to Baker Creek Bike Park and over 68 miles of trails.
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“The Urban Wilderness has truly come into its own as an outdoor adventure destination – it’s no longer a secret,” said Rebekah Jane Justice, the City’s Chief of Urban Design and Development. She highlighted that the new facilities will make the park an ideal starting point for Knoxville families’ outdoor activities.
The pavilion project is part of a larger Urban Wilderness public amenities plan that was proposed, approved, and budgeted eight years ago. Design and Construction Services Inc. has been chosen for the pavilion contract, which will be finalized this summer, with completion expected by late 2025.
Additional work includes two new greenway segments that will improve connections between the South Waterfront, the Urban Wilderness, downtown, East Knoxville, and other areas north of the Tennessee River. Urban Wilderness Coordinator Wes Soward noted that the river has historically been a barrier, but the new segments will enhance safer connections.
One new segment, an extension of the Cottrell Greenway, will connect Gateway Park to Sevier Avenue and is expected to open by fall. The other greenway will cross the Tennessee River via the South Knoxville Bridge, linking to the Morningside and James White Greenways, with construction set to begin next year.
For more information, visit the City of Knoxville’s news page.
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End of Summer Bash Event Details
The Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park is hosting an “End of Summer Bash” on Saturday, August 3, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., featuring activities like archery tag, gaga ball, shelter-building, and slacklining, along with animal encounters, a youth photography contest award ceremony, and food including hotdogs and s’mores. For more information, email Amanda or Register Online.