Construction work has started on a new waterfront pavilion at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge.
Construction work has started on a long-awaited pavilion at Melton Lake Park.
The $159,000 pavilion could be used for rowing and community events. The Oak Ridge City Council awarded a construction contract for it in May.
It’s the second major step in a waterfront development plan approved by City Council in December 2009. The first was the paving of the parking lot at Elza Gate Park.
The proposed hexagonal picnic pavilion could include 2,300 square feet of space, a metal roof, ceiling lighting, and a low stone wall with electrical outlets, the city said in May. There will also be a five-foot sidewalk-like concrete apron around the pavilion.
The prefabricated pavilion is designed to serve as a “signature facility†setting the theme for future waterfront development. It’s being installed by Rich Construction Co. of Lenoir City.
The design for the proposed picnic pavilion at Melton Lake Park is pictured above as it was presented in May.
The aging 20-foot by 40-foot shingled roof structure that was at Melton Lake Park has been torn down.
Funding for the proposed pavilion comes from a $140,000 donation from UT-Battelle, which manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and from savings that result from staff turnover in the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, the city staff said.
The park is used by rowers, runners, walkers, bikers, and families.
mushroomcloud says
The Xcity tells Seniior Citizens there is no money to build a Senior Center —-Guess what I received my tax bill today to help support — The park used by rowers, runners, walkers, bikers, and families and half the time I cannot even find ADA Wheelchair Parking in Oak Ridge in order for me just to conduct my business. What a hoot ?.
John Huotari says
I appreciate your advocacy of a senior center and ADA parking, but please try to keep your comments to the topic of the article. Thank you.
MW224 says
Thank you John, very appropriate response
mushroomcloud says
I remember sitting with my mother with the roadside park benches and having a picnic lunch —gone are those tables.
I remember having picnic lunches on the mound near the water gone are those picnic tables.
I remember eating at ELZA GATE and soon a rumor was spread that it was a hang out for gays soon the city of Oak Ridge turned it uinto part of the walking trails gone are the picnic tabkles.
Well, so is my mother no one cared then ——now we have a new version.
I quit eating picnic lunches——-today I ate Popeyes had not had any since college days in Memphis— spent $9.20 got 2 pieces chichen and onion rings and Black Beans and rice ——–NO BEANS OR SPOON TO EAT IT WITH… NICE MEMORY —good coke usually I get cherry—-yuk!!!
Ellen Smith says
This new pavilion isn’t being built with our tax money. UT-Battelle donated the money for its construction. (The donation was specifically for a waterfront pavilion; we couldn’t have used it for some other purpose.)
The pavilion is intended to be fully ADA-accessible. You should be able to pick up a Popeyes order and eat it there as a picnic lunch. However, it will take a little while for the parking lot improvements, new rest rooms, and other features envisioned for the park to get built.
And, by the way, those tax bills that you and I received yesterday came from the county, not the city.The county doesn’t pay for this park. Also, the federal/state money that the county gets for senior centers is spent in Clinton, while Oak Ridge pays for our senior city operation solely from city funds and user fees.
John Huotari says
Thank you for elaborating, Ellen.
agent86 says
Leroy G. (aka mushroomcloud) is quite confused about a lot of things.
mushroomcloud says
I will am 100% on topic of how change prevents others from access to public facilities and will guarantee that some where along tax payer money gets spent in this project——–nothing is a 100%
John H———- this my last post for awhile for life has other more important issues !!!
MW224 says
Hooray!
Onslow West says
Unfortunately, when you said “awhile” you meant only a few days.
http://oakridgetoday.com/2012/10/19/letter-proud-to-vote-for-fillauer/#comment-3906
Jay says
We are in a world now where people want change and want it tomorrow. This is the first step in a long line of changes to be made on the waterfront. Patients is the key. Those who tend to try to read between the lines are doomed to be sour individuals.
Cactus Jack says
Would like to see some money, donations or otherwise go to Blankenship Field, need some work up there. Hope that is somewhere down the road, tough for the schools to come up with money for it, but upgrades are needed.