A symbol of the friendship between Oak Ridge and Japan, the 20-year-old Friendship Bell at Alvin K. Bissell Park has been closed since late last year while the city make repairs to the structure. The city plans to start dismantling the bell structure next week.
Beginning next week, the City of Oak Ridge will start dismantling the International Friendship Bell House located in Alvin K. Bissell Park.
Earlier this spring, the city commissioned a structural evaluation of the bell house to determine the extent of suspected water damage to the supporting beams. The evaluation determined the majority of the structure, which was holding the 8,000 pound Friendship Bell, was beyond repair.
The report recommended closing the International Friendship Bell House due to public safety concerns, a press release said. A construction fence was erected around the structure to block access to the bell.
As a result of the structural evaluation, the city will dismantle the bell house and lower the bell to the existing concrete slab at the current location.
“The City of Oak Ridge is now working with a number of interested citizens and the Recreation and Parks Board on a campaign to replace the structure with a new permanent building,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said.
Once the dismantling of bell house is complete, the Friendship Bell will be lowered to the ground, the press release said. The bell will once again be accessible to the public for viewing purposes but not for ringing until the bell house reconstruction is complete.
The release said the work to dismantle the bell house should be completed within two weeks.
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