Visitors to downtown Elizabethton will soon notice a new feature at the western entrance to the historic shopping district.
Work has started to clear the grassy triangle at the intersection of East Elk Avenue and Elm Street to install new landscaping as well as a new art feature honoring the Tweetsie Trail.
The changes to triangle have been a focus of discussion for the Downtown Business Association for many years, and now the group is able to move forward with the plans they have been working toward.
“We are so excited that this is finally starting,” DBA President Cathy Shoun said. “It will bring positive changes to that end of downtown and will give visitors something beautiful to look at that says ‘Welcome’.”
New flowers and plants will be installed in the triangle, but the main focal point of the upgrade will be artwork depicting the Tweetsie Trail’s future presence through downtown Elizabethton.
Railroad ties with track will be the base for a bicycle, and a railroad-style sign will be placed nearby.
The new features will be placed alongside a smaller fir tree that is decorated as a Christmas tree during the holiday season, and a ‘Welcome To Downtown Elizabethton’ sign.
“This shows that we welcome the users of the Tweetsie Trail,” Shoun said. “The trail is a positive thing for downtown and that is something we want to celebrate.”
The project is being completed with the help of the city of Elizabethton and the Carter County Work Crews, Shoun said.
“We are all working together to get this finished,” she said. “That is what happens when you work as a team.”
All that is left now is waiting until the work is completed.
“I can’t wait until it is finished so we can see it all put together,” Shoun said. “This is something we have always wanted to do. We wanted to bring our beautification to this end of town, and now it is happening with everyone’s help.”