Refurbished East Lake Park Rededicated Amid Many Praises

It started as plans to improve the water quality in the park’s pond, but officials hope a completely refurbished East Lake Park improves the quality of life for the entire Southeast Chattanooga neighborhood as well.

 

“This is their gathering place, this is their public square, this is where it happens,” said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke Saturday to the several dozen people gathered.

“I see this as a place where all Chattanoogans can come together.”

 

The mayor’s comments came during a mid-morning ribbon-cutting ceremony held amid cleansed blue skies that mirrored the numerous places in the 20-plus-acre park that have been refreshed or touched up.

 

As was shown during a pre-dedication tour, the lake that had become clogged with algae and other natural pollutants was drained and restored with fountains, underground aerators and wetland plants.

 

Boardwalks have also been placed around the lake for viewing and fishing in the water that will be stocked with warm water fish. Spawning beds, catfish boxes and other underwater structures are also part of the new-look park.

 

Also, where a covered pipe once ran water from the spring box in the northeast corner of the grassy part of the park down to the lake, a more aesthetically pleasing manmade stream using bedrocks from the property now sits with landscaping.

 

Porous asphalt trails have also been installed, a natural playground has been built with no plastic materials, the existing buildings and pavilions have been refreshed, and lights and security cameras have been installed.

 

“We wanted to bring back some of the natural features of the park,” said David Mason of the CDM Smith design firm, which helped do the planning and work along with Kleenco Construction, the city of Chattanooga’s Water Quality and Public Works departments, Open Spaces and others.

 

“We thought it would be nice for people to walk around and enjoy the park.”

 

City of Chattanooga parks planner Akosua Cook said during the pre-ceremony tour that much care was put into the multi-faceted playground construction to get people to appreciate and learn about the environment and the park’s history as a former zoo. They also had neighborhood children involved in helping construct part of the playground entranceway.

 

“We wanted to get the community members involved and have them come and create molds,” she said, adding that one block depicting the national bird of Guatemala (quetzal) reflects the multi-racial East Lake community.

 

Part of the park is woodland going up Missionary Ridge, and Ms. Cook added that the next work on the park will likely include putting in walking trails there.

 

Park officials also hope to get students from nearby East Lake Elementary involved in various educational programs inside the park.

 

Among those on the tour was lifelong East Lake resident Chris Stabb, 57, who said he loves everything about the refurbished park, including the new porous path and the open stream.

 

“It’s awesome,” he said, praising the work of Mayor Berke and City Councilman Erskine Oglesby in getting the project done. “I hope this is the start of what’s going to totally renovate the entire community of East Lake.

 

“All the roads lead to here. We’ve got a lot of homes that need to be renovated and roads that need to be fixed, but this is a start. It’s going to be great for the entire community.”

 

During the official ceremony for this park that dates to 1896 and was initially part of a residential development of still-standing turn-of-the-century homes done by early Chattanooga millionaire C.E. James, Mayor Berke said he drives around Chattanooga a lot.

 

He said he was touched at what he saw when the park recently opened again after several years of planning and nearly a year of being closed.

 

“It was incredible to see families here,” he said. “It was a fantastic moment to see it active.”

 

He was one of several people who referenced the geese as creating some of the pond problems, and Mr. Mason had said that plantings along the water are designed to help. Also, visitors are encouraged not to feed them.

 

The geese could be spotted on the park grounds Saturday enjoying the new space along with their human friends.

 

Mayor Berke also praised the active work of the East Lake Neighborhood Association. Association leader Heather Herweyer said the idea for refurbishing the long-neglected lake and park space had begun about nine years ago, when a church held an outdoor-themed vacation Bible school at the park and brought some city Water Quality staff.

 

She watched the fences go up as the park was eventually closed last year for the work, and she was thrilled when the fences went back down and it was reopened.

 

“The excitement in the neighborhood was palpable,” she said. “This gives the neighborhood a place to gather and celebrate.”

 

Tennessee-American Water president Darlene Williams, whose parent firm along with the Lyndhurst Foundation helped provide $300,000 in grants to go along with the city’s contribution of $2.6 million, also gave the refurbished park high marks.

 

“This is without a doubt the greatest project I have seen funded by our charitable foundation,” she said.

 

Lyndhurst Foundation President Bruz Clark – who said he was standing in for fellow Lyndhurst staff member and project point man Macon Toledano -- also complimented the look of the park following years of neglect and deferred maintenance.

 

“Through loving care and targeted investment, we are here to witness a comeback,” he said.

 

Besides Mayor Berke and Councilman Oglesby, other elected officials on hand included Councilman Anthony Byrd, state Sen. Todd Gardenhire and state Rep. Esther Helton.

 

Saturday’s dedication ceremonies came three weeks after snow forced the postponement of the originally planned ribbon cutting, but officials said youngsters and others were still able to enjoy the park that day by playing in the snow.

 

Jcshearer2@comcast.net