Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, City Council members, City staff and Blount Mansion Association Board members participated in a ribbon-cutting at Blount Mansion on Monday.

The ribbon cutting highlighted Blount Mansion's newly installed classic steel ornamental fence. The project was funded by the City of Knoxville as a Capital Improvement project.

Before the fence could be installed, the area underwent several clean-up efforts. Last summer, goats were brought in to chew and remove kudzu in an area behind Craighead-Jackson House through a grant from Keep Knoxville Beautiful. Public Service crews and AvaLawn Lawn and Landscaping completed clearing the hillside down to James White Parkway. Baseline Sports, LLC, installed the fence once the area was cleared.

This winter, new trees will be planted between the new fence and James White Parkway.

Blount Mansion is designated as Knoxville's only National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and is the oldest museum in Knox County.

It is owned and operated by the Blount Mansion Association, Inc., a nonprofit, educational organization.