Oak Ridge Today

Here’s what people said they’d like to see in Oak Ridge

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Oak-Ridge-City-Blueprint-4-Jan-26-2017-Web

An estimated 400 people attended a kick-off meeting for an Oak Ridge City Blueprint at Grove Theater on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

An estimated 400 people attended a kick-off meeting for an Oak Ridge City Blueprint at Grove Theater on Thursday.

Among other things, people were asked what type of project they would like to see in the community. Here are some responses. This list does not include all responses.

  • A bicycle path or greenway on the old railway that runs from the Y-12 National Security Complex, through central Oak Ridge past Jefferson Middle School, and to Melton Lake Drive.
  • A roundabout at the five-way intersection of Providence and East Pasadena roads, and East Tennessee, North Tulane, and Pennsylvania avenues (many residents refer to it as “malfunction junction”). This proposal had both support and opposition.
  • A roundabout or light at Melton Lake Drive and Emory Valley Road (this roundabout also had support and opposition).
  • Remove unused or dilapidated buildings.
  • An airport.
  • Sidewalks and crosswalk lights in downtown Oak Ridge.
  • A box culvert to connect Ernie’s Creek in east Oak Ridge to Melton Hill Lake.
  • A handicap-inclusive playground at Melton Lake Park.
  • A senior center and active senior living.
  • City-wide high-speed wireless Internet.
  • An improvement to the crosswalk on Melton Lake Drive because drivers are not stopping.
  • Upgrade or modify a different building for the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter.
  • Keep Elm Grove Park as a park.
  • Make city parks more inviting, including with picnic tables, benches, and recycling containers.
  • Maintain and clean roads and sidewalks for “curb appeal.”

[Read more…]

Wellness, Safety Fair is April 5

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The City of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Schools, and Community Wellness and Safety Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The fair is open to all Oak Ridge city employees, Oak Ridge Schools employees, retirees, and their families.  The entire Oak Ridge community is also invited to participate.

The Oak Ridge Civic Center is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Edgemoor Road maintenance could cause traffic delays

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will be performing right-of-way maintenance on Edgemoor Road beginning Monday, February 6. This work could cause delays for drivers in the area, a press release said.

The maintenance project is estimated to be complete by Friday, February 17, providing there are no issues with weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the press release said. The road work will take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Motorists should expect some delay in the flow of traffic during this time. [Read more…]

City, schools could pick preschool site soon

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Elm Grove Park Preschool Conceptual Site Plan Jan 2017 Large

A conceptual site plan for a new preschool at Elm Grove Park on East Tennessee Avenue in east Oak Ridge. Officials said the plan would keep the park and the walking trail. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

 

Oak Ridge municipal and school officials could start selecting a site for the new preschool as early as this month. There are two options being considered: Elm Grove Park and Scarboro Community Center.

Financing for the project, which would include bonds, could be included in the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

In the meantime, a petition drive has been started to oppose building the preschool at Elm Grove Park.

The park had previously been announced as the preferred site for the new preschool, which has been on the city’s wish list for many years. Elm Grove Park is a city-owned parcel in east Oak Ridge off East Tennessee Avenue. It’s the site of a former school, it’s relatively flat, and it has city-owned utilities. Also, there aren’t many obstacles that would affect construction, and site borings have already been done, city officials said last week. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Senior Center opens in new location with chili cook-off

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Senior Center Chili Cook-Off

The Oak Ridge Senior Center welcomed guests to its new temporary location at the Civic Center with a free Chili Cook-Off on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Senior Center welcomed guests to its new temporary location at the Civic Center with a free Chili Cook-Off on Monday, January 30.

Around 70 people sampled chili and soup from area restaurants and assisted living facilities, a press release said. Participants providing food included Brookdale Senior Living, Greenfield Senior Living, Canterfield Assisted Living, Morning Pointe of Clinton, The Soup Kitchen, Pizza Inn, and Razzleberry Lab.

Lunch guests were able to check out the Senior Center’s new facility inside the Oak Ridge Civic Center on Oak Ridge Turnpike and register for door prizes before sampling and voting for their favorite dish, the press release said. The winner was chili from Greenfield Senior Living, represented by Leah Dailey and Mark Roseberry. [Read more…]

GIS stormwater data collection to occur in February

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Photo by City of Oak Ridge

Photo by City of Oak Ridge

 

Geographical information system, or GIS, storm drain inlet mapping will take place in Oak Ridge during the month of February in the following areas: Michigan Avenue, Outer Drive, and New York Avenue.

Representatives of the city will be mapping these inlets with GPS units and/or making visual assessments, a press release said. Residential property will only be accessed during reasonable hours to identify stormwater inlets, the press release said.

“This is not a request to enter into any building or structures on the property,” the press release said. “No construction will be taking place.”

The city is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, or TDEC, under the Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, to monitor certain streams or tributaries to those streams. The goal of this mandate is to protect and rehabilitate our natural water resources, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge receives Blankenship Field grant, primarily for synthetic turf

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Blankenship Field Overall Plan

An overall view of the proposed renovation of Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium. (File image from April 2015)

 

Oak Ridge has received a state grant of just under $500,000 that will be used primarily for synthetic turf at Blankenship Field. But it is also expected to help pay for track improvements, upgraded restrooms, fencing between the football field and track, and improvements to the Cedar Hill trailhead behind the visitors bleachers at Jack Armstrong Stadium, city officials said Thursday.

The Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant requires a 50 percent match. The match is supposed to be provided by the nonprofit Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation, and it can be a mix of cash and in-kind contributions, although the precise percentage of each—cash versus in-kind contributions—isn’t clear yet. The foundation has been chaired by Tennessee Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Senate Randy McNally.

Officials expect to know more after four of them—City Manager Mark Watson, City Council member Rick Chinn, Recreation and Parks Director Jon Hetrick, and Allen Thacker of Oak Ridge Schools—attend mandatory grant training in Nashville in February.

After that, the Oak Ridge City Council could accept the grant, possibly as early as the February 13 meeting. [Read more…]

Photos: Work on eighth rowing lane

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Eighth Rowing Lane Jan 18 2017

The view from the water of the new wall installed for the eighth lane of the Oak Ridge rowing course. Calhoun’s restaurant is in the background at center right. (Photo by Laurel Patrick)

 

Laurel Patrick of First Place Finish Inc. in Oak Ridge has been posting pictures on Twitter showing the progress on work on the eighth lane of the Oak Ridge rowing course.

Here are pictures by Patrick starting November 16, used here with her permission. We have posted them below in chronological order.

First Place Finish Inc. received a $548,350 contract to add the eighth lane during a special Oak Ridge City Council meeting in September. The work includes a precast concrete block retaining wall and associated dredging and site work.

Oak Ridge officials announced in late October that the speed limit on a section of Melton Lake Drive would be temporarily reduced for at least three months starting Monday, October 31, while the eighth rowing lane is built, and part of the Melton Lake Greenway will be closed as necessary. [Read more…]

Q&A: Top 10 most frequently asked questions about City Blueprint

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The City of Oak Ridge has posted the top 10 most frequently asked questions about the City Blueprint, which will be the subject of an open house kick-off meeting on Thursday.

Question One

Q: When and where is the City Blueprint Kick-Off Meeting being held?

A: Thursday, January 26, at High Places Church in Grove Center (123 Randolph Road) from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Registration open for lifeguard certification course

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Civic-Center-Indoor-Pool

Registration is now open for a Lifeguard Certification Course being offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department over spring break. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

Registration is now open for a lifeguard certification course being offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department during spring break.

The course will be held Monday, March 20, through Friday, March 24, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s indoor pool facility. The class begins at 10 a.m. each day, and it is scheduled to run until 2:30 p.m.

There are some pre-requisites for the course. Registrants must be at least 15 years old and be able to pass the pre-swim test for admission. The test will be held on the first day of class. [Read more…]

Temporary Civic Center, Senior Center closures announced

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Center Recreation Building will be closed to the public on Wednesday, January 25, and Thursday, January 26, for an Electric Department training event.

As a reminder, the Senior Center will also be closed between Monday, January 23, and Saturday, January 28, as it transitions to the Civic Center Recreation Building. The Senior Center will reopen Monday, January 30, at the Civic Center. [Read more…]

City Council, BOE to discuss preschool, Blankenship, budget, energy savings

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The Oak Ridge City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education will have a joint work session on Thursday, January 26, to discuss site selection for the preschool, the revitalization of Blankenship Field, an energy savings project, and the budget and capital improvements.

The preschool site selection could include Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge and Scarboro Center.

The joint work session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, January 26, in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane. See the agenda here.