Phase One: 652 to YOU

CPI began with a public engagement program called 652 to YOU, which is an opportunity for community leaders and residents to provide feedback about existing recreation experiences and infrastructure on or along the river, and to share ideas for their improvement by participating in a series of interactive activities facilitated by our team.

After completing 652 to YOU, Roane County received a report of the findings and a list of recommendations for how the community can make progress toward their aspirations. In addition, a list of potential projects was identified based on the community’s shared vision for their section of the Tennessee RiverLine. Roane County selected the Kingston Waterfront Park site as their priority placemaking project to study in Phase Two.

The following recommendations were outlined in Roane County’s 652 to YOU report:

1. Continue Cultivating Paddle Culture

2. Enhance Gear Availability

3. Engage Rivers as Connectors + Blue Space

4. Education: River as Shared Space

5. Invest in Opportunity Landscapes

6. Optimize Lodging, Campgrounds for Paddle Users

7. Leadership Development

8. Leverage Existing, Advocate for New Funding Sources

Phase TWO: CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

The Roane County Local Leadership Team, with the guidance of the Tennessee RiverLine Planning & Design team, selected the Kingston Waterfront as the priority placemaking project site. The site was selected because of its need for improvement, location to downtown, and potential connection to other downtown amenities. There is an established boat dock, parking area, and walking trails currently on site. The leadership team feels that adding kayak access and other amenities on the site would enhance the site. The leadership would like to see safe and accessible paddling access, restrooms, and walking trails on site. The community at large would like to see trails, picnicking and concessions, and adaptive paddling launch and gear access on the site.

Project Goals

Based on the feedback received from Roane County’s Local Leadership Team, the community-wide survey, and the research performed by the Tennessee RiverLine Planning & Design team, three primary project goals were identified for the proposed design at Kingston’s Waterfront Park:

• Clean stormwater runoff from the site and surrounding area to protect the lake and promote ecological best management practices.

• Connect a variety of users to the existing parks, local amenities and downtown.

• Create unique and novel ways of enjoying and experiencing Kingston, Watts Bar Lake and the Tennessee River.

The proposed conceptual design plan was directly influenced by the site’s location, historical and cultural context, property ownership, hydrologic and ecologic conditions, existing infrastructure, and programming needs of the community.