Progression continues to be made on potential renovations at one City of Elizabethton park.
Students from Appalachian State University worked over the span of five months and recently presented city officials with two presentations for potential renovations of Covered Bridge Park.
“What they’ve done for us, it is incredible really,” said Mike Mains, Parks and Recreation director. “They’ve given us some vital tools we can use to make improvements at one of the more popular parks. Appalachian State really came up with ideas to help showcase the natural beauty of the area and give us ideas we can use to improve the park.”
Parks & Rec, the Elizabethton Arts & Cultural Alliance and the Elizabethton IDEAS Group spearheaded the efforts to utilize the resources available by the university to help with progression at the park.
Students arrived on site late August and toured the area with city officials to come up with a park feasibility study and master plan for improvements.
Different intangibles will go into the development of the study, according to Mains. The scope of services provided by the university includes:
• Research and Development of a Design and Action Plan for the Project
• Provide Beautification of Both Parks
• Promote the History of Natural Resources of the City of Elizabethton
• Provide Educational Opportunities
• Have Recreational Programs and Events and Promote Scenic Aspects of Both Parks
• Identify Funding Sources
• Develop Cost Effective Measures That Would Lower Burden of Maintenance Expenses
• Reduce Overall Liability Concerns
Chelsea Helms, instructor with Appalachian State’s Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, led the study’s efforts and recently added they took a special level of excitement on the project.
“App State students have been first class,” Mains said. “They really hit the ground running and gave us a lot of tools to work with.”
Now with the presentations available, Mains added that the Parks & Rec Board will make the final determination from the presentations about what would be the best steps to take for improvements.
“We’re also hoping to have community input,” Mains said. “The decision will come later, but we’re hoping to have something available to where residents can voice their thought. We’re hoping to possibly have an online survey available.”
Once a plan is approved by the Parks & Rec Board, the plan would have to be ultimately OK’ed by City Council at a later date before any progress takes place. Mains thanked everyone involved, including the Planning and Development Office and the Historic Zoning Commission for their continued support for park improvements across the city.