City receives $500,000 grant to improve Garrison Park.

Crossville Mayor James Mayberry announced that the city has received a $500,000 grant for the re-development of the old Garrison Park of Fourth Street through the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF).

The funds have been awarded by Governor Bill Haslam and Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner Bob Martineau as part of a $16 millions in funds for use by communities for recreation improvements.

The entrance to Garrison Park and at left the old grandstands built over 50 years ago.

The grant requires a match of an additional $500,000 of local funds and will fund the first phase of a plan to provide a splash pad, playground, restrooms, renovation of the basketball court, walkways along with the removal of the existing outdated grandstand and two baseball fields.  Plans are underway to incorporate features to recognize the history of the park that was the original location of the annual county fair.

In addition, the Crossville Parks and Recreation department has been working with the ball leagues using the existing fields and they will be accommodated at Centennial Park in future years.

Phase two of the plan will include development of a multipurpose field and open plan area.  The plan for Garrison Park were part of the recreation mater plan developed by the city several years ago and the need for additional recreational facilities was mentioned in the visioning meetings held around the community.  Also, council has discussed the need for such a facility to be near the center of Crossville for easier access by low income families.

Garrison Park concept drawing from Recreation Master Plan