Blog: South Waterfront Blog

Urban Wilderness' National Acclaim Draws Tourists; South Waterfront Poised to Hit Milestones in 2023

A lot of good things have happened recently on and near the South Waterfront. And 2023 looks to be a year when milestones are hit and surpassed on multiple projects.

But first, ICYMI: Did you hear the news? Urban Wilderness trails were used in 2021 by a total of 303,680 visitors. And one in every five of these trail users was a first-time out-of-town guest.

Click HERE to read more about how the Urban Wilderness is drawing national acclaim - and tourists.

The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club's annual Fall Festival typically draws visitors from several dozen states.

To catch up on the latest developments - everything from the Sevier Avenue Streetscapes Project to new connectivity near Suttree Landing Park to a new sidewalk coming on Lancaster Drive - click HERE.

Plus, $2.7 million is being invested in the Baker Creek area of the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park – this phase of park build-out adding shade structures, restrooms, a picnic area and additional parking.

And at its Nov. 15, 2022 meeting, City Council authorized Mayor Indya Kincannon’s administration to execute a $640,000 agreement with Great Southern Recreation to design and install a new Baker Creek Preserve Adventure Playground.

The Adventure Playground will incorporate natural materials into the landscape and open by the end of 2023.

All combined, City Council since last month authorized Mayor Indya Kincannon’s administration to proceed with nearly $7 million in contracts associated with the latest round of Urban Wilderness community-building and economic-development projects.

Finally, please welcome Wes Soward, a former President of the Board of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club from 2016-20, who has been appointed by Mayor Kincannon to serve as the City’s new Urban Wilderness Coordinator.

Wes Soward

Posted by evreeland On 17 November, 2022 at 7:46 PM